Movie review: Trainwreck

Trainwreck starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader.

I stopped seeing romantic comedies at the movies a long time ago.

What started as a revolutionary genre with Four Weddings and a Funeral soon became old hat - predictable, cheesy and, usually, with all the funniest parts given away in the trailer.

With that in mind, and particularly its very funny trailer, it was with some trepidation that I went to Trainwreck.

I needn't have worried. This film completely flips the tried and true rom-com plot on its head, to great effect.

It's based around the life of Amy, a 30-something cynical, borderline alcoholic, magazine writer who prefers one-night-stands to long-term monogamy.

With a cheating father, and a happily married sister, the film follows Amy through various relationships and flings as she tries to get her head around love, happiness and all their trappings.

Comedian Amy Schumer not only stars as the lead, opposite Bill Hader's nerdily genius sports doctor, but the leading feminist also wrote this brilliant twist on standard rom-com fare.

With plenty of hilariously super-awkward moments, just enough sex and plenty of heart, this film had me laughing till there were tears rolling down my cheeks.

It would be totally fair to say that the least funny parts were in the trailer for this film (though that may be partly due to its R16 rating).

While it may be a Trainwreck in name, it's certainly not one in nature.

Trainwreck
(R16), 125 minutes
Rating: 4/5