The D Train *** (2015, Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn, Jeffrey Tambor) – Movie Review

Jack Black plays Dan Landsman, the head of a Pittsburgh high school reunion committee, long married to Stacey (Kathryn Hahn), with a 14-year-old son (Russell Posner).

Black decides to involve his boss (Jeffrey Tambor) in his daft scheme to travel to Los Angeles to track down Oliver Lawless (James Marsden), the most popular guy from his class and convince him to go to the reunion. The idea is, if Marsden’s there everyone will want to come. Marsden’s become nearly famous on a TV commercial. Black idolises him to the point of lunacy.

It is a comedy, and funny too, but an oddly serious-minded one. The four stars give spot-on performances, relishing their roles and revving it up nicely. There are lots of laughs but it also has lots of uncomfortable moments, most of them intentional, and there is one big, fat, interesting surprise.

Way out of the rut, co-writer/directors Andrew Mogel and Jarrad Paul’s bold and provocative movie is well worth checking out, if only to find out how cool you are. I’m not sure if the story is entirely credible, but it’s written and performed with so much verve and conviction that it makes you believe in it.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

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