“My Super Ex-Girlfriend” Directed by Ivan Reitman 20TH CENTURY FOX
In the beginning of “My Super Ex-Girlfriend,” Uma Thurman, as G-Girl, flies down from the sky to stop a jewel heist. As she nears the ground, her skirt floats up and when the bad guys shoot at her, their bullets puncture her shirt but not her skin. But G-Girl is a supergirl in both senses of the term: She flies, picks up cars, and prevents disasters ranging from petty larceny to the entire destruction of the city, yet she is also a super girl in the needy, weepy, clingy, jealous sort of way. These dual personalities of G-Girl are what drive the plot of the film, as the supergirl and the super-girly girl combine to turn what from the outside looks a man’s fantasy into his worst nightmare. The dominance of G-Girl and other women in the film turn “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” into an exploration of how strong women change gender roles in relationships. But, luckily, “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman keeps the focus on being funny, not didactic. Thus observations and criticisms stay in the viewer’s head and don’t ruin good jokes, of which there are quite a few. The story begins when Matt Saunders (Luke Wilson) asks out G-Girl’s alter-ego, Jenny Johnson, on the subway because she looks cute – more librarian than superheroine. Wilson plays Matt like he plays most of his regular-guy roles: kind, sweet, timid – almost wimpy at first, but always looking like a hero in comparison to jerky friends (his slightly insane jerky friend is played by Rainn Wilson of “The Office”). And a hero is what Jenny wants. Teary-eyed, Jenny tells Matt that she helps people every day, but no one ever helped her – until him. Letting out the super-girly girl makes Matt extremely uncomfortable. Her constant talk about her feelings plays like a reel of what not to do on dates. But Jenny’s desire to be rescued is surprising coming from a film in which female characters have the power over the men. For example, Matt’s boss is a woman and she frequently asks Matt’s pretty coworker Hannah Lewis (Anna Faris) if she’d like to file any sexual harassment claims against him. And ultimately, when Jenny brings out more of her supergirl, Matt tells her he feels emasculated. The G-Girl fantasy isn’t what he thought it would be. And when Matt breaks up with her, G-Girl does not take the destruction of her fantasy so easily. Beside G-Girl’s violent rage, Matt’s co-worker Hannah is much less intimidating. Hannah has no super powers, is not overly emotional, and though she is smart, comes across a bit ditzy and confused. Right from the beginning, Hannah is the one who Matt really likes. Though it confuses, affirms and destroys female stereotypes, the film remains lighthearted and funny; overthinking is entirely optional. “My Super Ex-Girlfriend,” at just over an hour and a half, is the perfect length for a comedy. Running gags don’t have time to get old and there are enough new tricks up G-Girl’s sleeve to keep the action exciting.