SHE’S OUT OF MY LEAGUE / ***

Distributor: Paramount
Release Date: March 12, 2010
Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: R

The opening shot of director Jim Field Smith’s debut film “She’s Out of My League” is a close up Jay Baruchel, who plays the film’s hero, Kirk. This shot is indicative of the film’s primary motive: move the hard to pronounce name Baruchel to the list of bankable comedic talents.

Thanks to Baruchel’s unique and squirmy charisma, “League” succeeds in revealing him as someone who can carry a romantic comedy. He’s like a skinner Seth Rogen.

Kirk works airport security with his friends Stainer (T.J. Miller), Jack (Mike Vogel), and Devon (Nate Torrence). His life doesn’t seem to be going anywhere special. The most pathetic aspect of Kirk’s life is that his witch of an ex-girlfriend Marnie (Lindsay Sloane) got so close with his parents (Debra Jo Rupp and Adam LeFevre) that she hangs around them with her new boyfriend Ron (Hayes MacArthur).

One day Kirk’s luck changes for the better. The gorgeous Molly (Alice Eve) comes through his gate at the airport and while the rest of his colleagues almost literally drool on her, Kirk treats her like a normal person, which she clearly appreciates. Turns out she appreciates it so much that she leaves her phone behind, and when her friend Patty (Krysten Ritter) calls it and Kirk answers, Molly asks Kirk to return it to her at a party she’s throwing.

At first Kirk is able to enjoy himself because he thinks there is no way that Molly could possibly be interested in him. As his friends explain to him, she’s a “hard 10” and he’s more of a “five,” and you can’t jump more than two levels. When Patty tells Kirk that Molly is definitely into him, Kirk’s defenses immediately go up. I mean, why would a girl like that be interested in a guy like Kirk? I can relate.

The film progresses in exactly the way you would expect it to: Kirk and Molly both get bad advice from their friends; the relationship goes through hardship; happy ending. However, the likability of both leads (as well as the supporting characters) is strong enough to carry the film. Baruchel does a fine job in his first starring role as the lovable loser; over time I think he’ll find the exact right balance in those two words, as he was almost too much the latter in this. Eve sidesteps the idea that all hot blonde girls in movies are either vapid or bitchy. She brings natural warmth to Molly, who really is just a nice, intelligent girl that happens to be a Hard 10.

Theater: RDM Westroads 14, Omaha, NE
Time: 730 pm
Date: March 9, 2010 (Promo)