The new comedy by Neighbours director Andrew Jay Cohen deals with some very serious and very true themes and issues in modern day society.
Director: Andrew Jay Cohen
Writers: Andrew Jay Cohen, Brendan O’Brian
Starring: Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Jason Mantzoukas, Jeremy Renner
Running time: 88mins
Certificate: 15
Release date: June 30
The House is indeed a comedy that will keep you laughing throughout but the film actually tackles some tough problems in every day USA and the UK including the price of tuition fees.
The film follows Scott (Will Ferrell) and Kate (Amy Poehler) who spent all their daughter’s college funds and after not receiving the government grant they were hoping for, they set up an illegal casino in the house of their sex and gambling addict friend Frank (Jason Mantzoukas).
During the cause of the film the casino gets bigger and bigger and draws the attention of the local authorities who try to shut it down.
After seeing the trailer for this movie, I was already guaranteed it was going to be hilarious after the director managed to get an awesome cast with some of the biggest comedy names in Hollywood.
Ferrell is, of course, perfect as ever as the dad-turned-casino gangster who is terrible a maths, an hilarious theme that doesn’t add anything to the movie but shows the detail Cohen has made in the movie.
Parks and Recreation star Poehler is outstanding as the matriarch of the family and uses her comedy background to really enhance and bring to life her character.
Although not the main stars of the production, Mantzoukas’ portrayal as the loveable, gambling and sex addict Frank really stole the picture.
You immediately feel sorry for him the first time you see him on the screen and, after interviewing Mantzoukas, it’s why he was drawn to the character claiming the vulnerability of his character is what makes him loveable which is true.
One of the many highlights of the movie was having ‘Avengers’ star Renner making a cameo as the evil gangster.
Although he only appears towards the end of the film, his performance is completely different to his superhero counterpart and he does it perfectly.
Despite being a comedy, you watch the film and see the problems the character’s face are all real and happen to the everyday person.
Not being able to afford tuition is a big topic for all audiences around the globe and Cohen does really make it as hard hitting as possible (and also admitted to me that he got anxious researching how much a US college costs for the film here).
It is absolutely absurd how much college and university fees are these days and the film shows the character’s doing the most ridiculous thing possible to get their daughter into her preferred college.
Ridiculous is a good word to describe the film but not in a negative way. Although the film tackles serious issues and is based around parents and neighbours, some of the sequences are over dramatic but it all adds to the comedy of the film.
One particular Fight Club-esque scene really had my howling out loud in the cinema.
A brilliant film and will make you think what extremes are you willing to take to get the money to pay for university or college.
Lights, Camera, Action! 