Butter (2011)

 

I hadn't heard of this movie until I stumbled upon it on Netflix. Honestly, I only watched it because there were just too many familiar names not to. I have to think that if so many well-known actors are in one movie, the chances are the movie is pretty decent. I was expecting a sort of mellow comedy. I was totally wrong! Butter has energy! This movie is about...yes, butter! More specifically a butter competition in a small Iowa town.

Jennifer Garner as Laura Pickler. An uptight, slightly neurotic, usually well-mannered, suburban house wife with crazed ambition. I was surprised that Jennifer Garner didn't fall into the superstar leading lady trap and take over the entire movie. It would be easy with this type of role, but she balances her character with the rest of the cast very well. Her ability to share the stage is definitely underrated.

Olivia Wilde as Brooke completely surprised me! Wilde is totally open, committed, and approaches this role without fear. By far the standout performance of the movie. You have never seen her quite like this; raunchy, brash, and practically naked the whole time. I have to add, the sound/music editor(s) were spot on whenever she entered a room.

Kristen Schaal as Carol Ann is a very strong supportive role. Her character is innocently and hysterically politically incorrect. She's shocking, sweet, and funny.

Yara Shahidi as Destiny, is the foster-child who is Laura Pickler's main competitor in the butter sculpting competition and the narrator of the film, yet she isn't on the cover for the movie? I understand the cast is full of A-listers, but they seriously couldn't fit one more stick of butter on the cover? Very strange.

The biggest hiccup in casting is Ashley Greene as Bob and Laura's daughter. Every scene with her is noticeably dull, which makes it even worse that she's on the cover and Yara Shahidi is not.

I thought casting Alicia Silverstone as the, presumed vegan, foster mother was genius. Although the layered comedy might only be known by a very small percentage because the movie itself is already tailored for a small audience. It will take an Alicia Silverstone fan or a vegan to understand how funny it is to see her fridge full of soy products and the irony of her foster daughter entering a butter competition.

As funny as this film is, the emotional investment just isn't there. Although, I imagine it would've been cultivated had they committed the film to be more of a heartfelt family comedy. Rob Corddry as Ethan, the foster father, has to work really hard to get the audience invested. Toward the end, its almost there. You just know there's something lacking when you feel more heartbreak for the bully than anyone else. The film was only 90 minutes. They could have spent a little more time creating the emotional bond between Destiny and her foster parents. However, the main punch in this film is the comedy. There are many jaw-dropping moments. Its so funny that the little man in my belly didn't sit down for more than 10 minutes!

Overall, Butter is almost perfect. Its like it started out as a dark comedy but somewhere along the way, someone wanted it to be a family comedy. The problem is, no child should see this movie. They either should've went with dark or family, but combining the two significantly narrowed the audience. Its unfortunate because the cast was strong enough that it would have worked as either! Regardless, I found it thoroughly entertaining.

On a scale of 1-10, I give Butter an 8.0
                 with distinction: underrated.

I never want to give away too much, so instead I will add a spotlight on a particular scene that I found extraordinary and worth paying attention to (if there is one).

Scene Spotlight: Hugh Jackman's character, Boyd Bolton, praying to God.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1349451/