I think Neil LaBute hates men, well, weak men to be exact. In each of his films, the weakest men are punished for their insecurities while the alpha male characters emerge relatively unscathed.
So it is that the lead character, Adam receives a humiliating comeuppance at the hands of his girlfriend, Evelyn. I would've sympathized more with Adam but with every stage of his gradual change from pudgy insecure guy to more attractive looking guy you see he's no innocent victim, just a douchebag waiting to be set free. Evelyn poses the argument that she did him a favor by improving him, it's not hard to see her logic but that doesn't it any less humiliating. It makes me wonder if Evelyn hasn't inadvertently created a misogynist. Rachel Weisz does really good work here, her character is like some fucked up manic pixie girl on a mission. Paul Rudd does great subtle work, at times Adam just looks pathetic trying to defend critiscism's that his change is because he felt like it, not because he was convinced by Evelyn to make the change.
Gretchen Mol and Fred Weller provide able support as Adam's friends Jenny and Phillip who watch in amazement at their friend's change. Phillip isn't really much of a friend to Adam, he seemingly only has him around just to look good.
I think, by this point, LaBute was running out of haterade as he seems to have resigned himself to taking any paycheck gig he can get, or maybe he's decided film isn't the best place for his brand of cynicism.
So it is that the lead character, Adam receives a humiliating comeuppance at the hands of his girlfriend, Evelyn. I would've sympathized more with Adam but with every stage of his gradual change from pudgy insecure guy to more attractive looking guy you see he's no innocent victim, just a douchebag waiting to be set free. Evelyn poses the argument that she did him a favor by improving him, it's not hard to see her logic but that doesn't it any less humiliating. It makes me wonder if Evelyn hasn't inadvertently created a misogynist. Rachel Weisz does really good work here, her character is like some fucked up manic pixie girl on a mission. Paul Rudd does great subtle work, at times Adam just looks pathetic trying to defend critiscism's that his change is because he felt like it, not because he was convinced by Evelyn to make the change.
Gretchen Mol and Fred Weller provide able support as Adam's friends Jenny and Phillip who watch in amazement at their friend's change. Phillip isn't really much of a friend to Adam, he seemingly only has him around just to look good.
I think, by this point, LaBute was running out of haterade as he seems to have resigned himself to taking any paycheck gig he can get, or maybe he's decided film isn't the best place for his brand of cynicism.
