131 reviews
When the film begins, one can get a sense of the overall humor it will have. It doesn't help that the antagonist, Chuck is not in any way spiteful or vindictive enough, and you even find yourself liking her, appreciating her as one of the most normal characters in this damn thing. Vaughn does impress however, playing that same role as always, irrespective of the screenplay, he has a way with words, a fluency to his dialogue that can entrance the viewer. He'd make one of hell of a salesman – in real life. Dave Franco provides the very few laughs that do exist however, playing a different role but carrying it well, as the heartbeat to this movie.
Unfinished Business is more of a small comedy that flopped in theaters and will be forgotten most likely. Scott's inclination for mawkish poignancy falls flat too, as attempting to be profound is not something the filmmaker has earned at all. There was more nudity and graphic nudity than one would expect from a film as this, but since it did have an R rated, it made sense.
Unfinished Business is more of a small comedy that flopped in theaters and will be forgotten most likely. Scott's inclination for mawkish poignancy falls flat too, as attempting to be profound is not something the filmmaker has earned at all. There was more nudity and graphic nudity than one would expect from a film as this, but since it did have an R rated, it made sense.
Don't listen to all the negative news about this comedy. It's not that bad. This comedy is funny in parts and the cast is well chosen. The small start up vs established corporation is quite relevant and amusing today. The team is funny with the retirement age guy (Tom Wilkinson), the newbie dimwit (Dave Franco who is great at this kind of role) and Vince as the guy struggling to get his new business going. Sienna Miller is pretty and does the ---hole boss well. James Marsden is good as the corporate schmuck. The filming in Berlin is fun to watch with it's mix of old and new and cutting edge. The side plot of Vince's kid being bullied for being fat is a bit overdone. Of course there are some crude moments like any comedy these days with it's nudity.
Overall worth one watch.
Overall worth one watch.
- phd_travel
- Sep 6, 2015
- Permalink
Vince Vaughn has a long history of playing the lovable loser, and quite frankly he does it well. He's non-threatening, not charismatic enough to be overbearing and has his moments. Here he plays the same character doing the best by his friends and family and (Insert generic Hollywood plot here) By that you may think I didn't enjoy Unfinished Business and that wouldn't be accurate. The problem with Unfinished Business is that its so very very extra-ordinarily cookie cutter. Namely you will know exactly whats coming next and will bring nothing to the table that you haven't seen before......and done better.
Unfinished Business is harmless, Tom Wilkinson is great as always and equally so Dave Franco plays his usual heartbreakingly annoying role.
There are laughs to be had including solid out loud ones for me but the whole thing feels very played out and luck luster.
This is fine as a crash out with the other half when there is nothing better on the box-esque movie, but to go out of your way and watch it? You can do a great deal better.
www.platypuschow.com
Unfinished Business is harmless, Tom Wilkinson is great as always and equally so Dave Franco plays his usual heartbreakingly annoying role.
There are laughs to be had including solid out loud ones for me but the whole thing feels very played out and luck luster.
This is fine as a crash out with the other half when there is nothing better on the box-esque movie, but to go out of your way and watch it? You can do a great deal better.
www.platypuschow.com
- Platypuschow
- Jun 2, 2015
- Permalink
Unfinished Business was a welcome surprise. Based on what I had read about it, I was prepared to leave the theatre underwhelmed and disappointed. That did not happen, though.
Vince Vaughn and Tom Wilkinson were amusing in their roles and they seemed to get things more right than wrong when it came to delivery and to timing. The character of their simple sidekick was more than a bit annoying, but it was good to see that the characters played by Vaughn and Wilkinson cut him a lot of slack. In short, this is a better movie than many IMDb amateur reviewers would have you believe.
I found myself chuckling more than a few times, laughing at their antics and the absurdity of it all. This was a charming and amusing film in the end. If I were to guess, then some of the reviewers here may have felt discomfort over the depictions of drinking, drug use, and sexuality in this picture. So it goes. Recommended viewing for the non-church going set.
Vince Vaughn and Tom Wilkinson were amusing in their roles and they seemed to get things more right than wrong when it came to delivery and to timing. The character of their simple sidekick was more than a bit annoying, but it was good to see that the characters played by Vaughn and Wilkinson cut him a lot of slack. In short, this is a better movie than many IMDb amateur reviewers would have you believe.
I found myself chuckling more than a few times, laughing at their antics and the absurdity of it all. This was a charming and amusing film in the end. If I were to guess, then some of the reviewers here may have felt discomfort over the depictions of drinking, drug use, and sexuality in this picture. So it goes. Recommended viewing for the non-church going set.
I love gratuitousness in comedies. Movies like Harold & Kumar push the envelope so far as to what's appropriate to laugh at that it just becomes absurdly entertaining. I also love comedy in my comedies. Sadly, Vince Vaughn's latest alleged comedy Unfinished Business has all the gratuitousness you could ever want, but falls short on the funny.
It is intermittently amusing. And by that I mean a few moments make you smile, chuckle even, due to the ridiculousness of the situation they're in. The cast - Vince Vaughn, Dave Franco, and Tom Wilkinson - are fine. Nick Frost also has a small role, which should have been fleshed out because he has the most entertaining parts of the movie. The problem is the material just isn't good. The writing is choppy, uneven, and distractingly terrible. It would've been better for the cast to improv for an hour-and-a-half, that would at least be entertaining. The story here tries to tie together an explicit raunchy comedy with a homely family drama and a vain attempt at a business narrative that revolves completely around "the handshake." It just makes no sense, from a cohesion standpoint and a movie-making standpoint - how on earth was this green-lit? Who was the audience for this? Certainly not kids, definitely not adults. Who thought this was a good idea?
It's a shame because I really like Vince Vaughn. He is fine in the movie, as is the rest of the cast, but they have absolutely nothing to work with. Throwing all the boobs and penises in the world on screen does not make a good comedy. At the end of the day, Unfinished Business should have been left unfinished.
It is intermittently amusing. And by that I mean a few moments make you smile, chuckle even, due to the ridiculousness of the situation they're in. The cast - Vince Vaughn, Dave Franco, and Tom Wilkinson - are fine. Nick Frost also has a small role, which should have been fleshed out because he has the most entertaining parts of the movie. The problem is the material just isn't good. The writing is choppy, uneven, and distractingly terrible. It would've been better for the cast to improv for an hour-and-a-half, that would at least be entertaining. The story here tries to tie together an explicit raunchy comedy with a homely family drama and a vain attempt at a business narrative that revolves completely around "the handshake." It just makes no sense, from a cohesion standpoint and a movie-making standpoint - how on earth was this green-lit? Who was the audience for this? Certainly not kids, definitely not adults. Who thought this was a good idea?
It's a shame because I really like Vince Vaughn. He is fine in the movie, as is the rest of the cast, but they have absolutely nothing to work with. Throwing all the boobs and penises in the world on screen does not make a good comedy. At the end of the day, Unfinished Business should have been left unfinished.
Weird that so many people did not like this movie. I suppose if you had high expectations, you would be let down, but other than that, it was a thoroughly enjoyable well constructed comedy. At least a 7.2
The punch lines and comedy came off as low key and sort of anti-climactic, but I thought that gave it a greater sense of realism. I saw the IMDb ratings, and set my expectations low, and then looked for the redeeming qualities of the film, sometimes that's all it takes to get more out of it than the high-expectation crowd.
The main character suffers one realistic defeat after another, and sometimes that's how life goes. That sense of exhaustion from trying was clearly pervasive throughout the film, but the main character keeps chugging along and does not give in to the adversity he faces. To me, it created a compelling every day sort of comedy that was accessible and portrayed by fun characters.
There is some gratuitous nudity & lewdness that detracts in some ways from the film, but being thick skinned, it really did not bother me at all. Bullying is a surface theme, but really it's "being there" for your fiends and family that is the real message and the bullying is sort of mentioned as a mechanism to show adversity and rising above it with the people we love. What's not to like about that? Bunch of "nose in the air" stiffs didn't get it, so what.
Very watchable "b" comedy that does not try and over-achieve. Good movie for a quiet evening where you don't want to think too much. Anyone can highbrow this film and put it down, but it has tangible qualities that do not make it and idiotic "dumb & dumber" type film.
The punch lines and comedy came off as low key and sort of anti-climactic, but I thought that gave it a greater sense of realism. I saw the IMDb ratings, and set my expectations low, and then looked for the redeeming qualities of the film, sometimes that's all it takes to get more out of it than the high-expectation crowd.
The main character suffers one realistic defeat after another, and sometimes that's how life goes. That sense of exhaustion from trying was clearly pervasive throughout the film, but the main character keeps chugging along and does not give in to the adversity he faces. To me, it created a compelling every day sort of comedy that was accessible and portrayed by fun characters.
There is some gratuitous nudity & lewdness that detracts in some ways from the film, but being thick skinned, it really did not bother me at all. Bullying is a surface theme, but really it's "being there" for your fiends and family that is the real message and the bullying is sort of mentioned as a mechanism to show adversity and rising above it with the people we love. What's not to like about that? Bunch of "nose in the air" stiffs didn't get it, so what.
Very watchable "b" comedy that does not try and over-achieve. Good movie for a quiet evening where you don't want to think too much. Anyone can highbrow this film and put it down, but it has tangible qualities that do not make it and idiotic "dumb & dumber" type film.
- frank-63-838463
- Jun 11, 2015
- Permalink
Unfinished Business is a comedy starring pretty good cast that i thought would make this a pretty hilarious comedy; Vince Vaughn, Dave Franco, Nick Frost. But man this was just for the most part very unfunny. There were some good moments that got me to laugh, mainly between Dave Franco and Vince Vaughn but they were still only a few and stretched over the course of the film with boring story filler in between. Tom Wilkinson i found to be not funny at all, they tried to make him the horny old guy to get some stupid jokes out of him but it really didn't work. Majority of the jokes were just predictable and unoriginal and they use the same jokes a few times throughout the film it just gets annoying. In terms of the plot, it was a mess, i had no idea what was going on most of the time, they just seemed to be going from place to place and meeting to meeting as an excuse to keep on progressing the plot. But it was boring and you don't care about who works for who and the business numbers they keep bringing up and it just drags on and on.
Oh and i almost forgot the thing that makes this entire film so unbearable at times. The movie just continuously whacks you over the head with a stupid message about bullying over and over and over again. They maybe spent like 20 minutes of this film from the beginning to the end shoving this whole 'bullying is bad' message down your throat and it was so annoying i just wanted the film to stop. So in the end it has a messy and very vague plot with only a few good funny moments in there and a bullying message that takes over the film. Unfortunately none of the main trio really stand out performance wise and don't have a whole lot of chemistry together and that also let the film down quite a bit. - 3.8/10
Oh and i almost forgot the thing that makes this entire film so unbearable at times. The movie just continuously whacks you over the head with a stupid message about bullying over and over and over again. They maybe spent like 20 minutes of this film from the beginning to the end shoving this whole 'bullying is bad' message down your throat and it was so annoying i just wanted the film to stop. So in the end it has a messy and very vague plot with only a few good funny moments in there and a bullying message that takes over the film. Unfortunately none of the main trio really stand out performance wise and don't have a whole lot of chemistry together and that also let the film down quite a bit. - 3.8/10
- stephendaxter
- May 28, 2015
- Permalink
If you saw the trailers for this movie like I did and are expecting a non-stop out of control European cocaine and hookers party with the famous motor mouth himself, sadly, that movie does not exist.
However, what does exist is a very light little comedy about some outsiders and weirdos who go to Germany on a business trip. It doesn't have big punchlines and stupid catchphrases and ridiculous orgies. The comedy is character driven, which is smart given that there are a bunch of really good actors in this film. Underneath that lies a very sweetly- natured family dynamic that Vince handles in a realistic and understated way.
It reminds me of Cedar Rapids, in a way, mostly because Hollywood has no idea how to market these low-key character driven comedies. They think people will be bored, and they are right, the Micheal Bay crowd will be bored by this movie and they won't think its funny. But they still haven't figured out that its OK that some people may not like it or think its very funny, every film doesn't have to be Wedding Crashers or Old School, home runs are nice, but so are singles and doubles.
There are problems with this film, the pacing, at times it feels like a student film no one is running, the fact they sandwiched what feels like could have been a pretty believable family movie around this R-rated content, what ever the hell Dave Franco is doing, but somewhere in there is a really good movie, they just couldn't quite make it all work. Then someone decided to market it as Eurotrip 2 with Vince Vaugh and it flopped.
Its probably better than Fred Claus.
However, what does exist is a very light little comedy about some outsiders and weirdos who go to Germany on a business trip. It doesn't have big punchlines and stupid catchphrases and ridiculous orgies. The comedy is character driven, which is smart given that there are a bunch of really good actors in this film. Underneath that lies a very sweetly- natured family dynamic that Vince handles in a realistic and understated way.
It reminds me of Cedar Rapids, in a way, mostly because Hollywood has no idea how to market these low-key character driven comedies. They think people will be bored, and they are right, the Micheal Bay crowd will be bored by this movie and they won't think its funny. But they still haven't figured out that its OK that some people may not like it or think its very funny, every film doesn't have to be Wedding Crashers or Old School, home runs are nice, but so are singles and doubles.
There are problems with this film, the pacing, at times it feels like a student film no one is running, the fact they sandwiched what feels like could have been a pretty believable family movie around this R-rated content, what ever the hell Dave Franco is doing, but somewhere in there is a really good movie, they just couldn't quite make it all work. Then someone decided to market it as Eurotrip 2 with Vince Vaugh and it flopped.
Its probably better than Fred Claus.
- mpruett-65588
- Apr 27, 2016
- Permalink
The movie started off a bit seriously and not much of funny bits but it kept on growing to be really hilarious in some scenes, Generally the movie hits so many nerves like how to be courageous enough and initiative to start your business if you know you're good enough to do so, but also faces the bullying and it is what makes the movie more purposeful and own a valid strong point of view. Maybe it's not the type of comedy it would leave me on my back laughing but again the did something good adding the bullying thingy to the plot so it would make it more attractive.
The screenplay was thorough,, the script was "in my opinion" well written, Steve Conrad took this project all by himself and he made it look really genuine ,, yes this is no where near his previous movies like "the weather man", "the promotion" or god knows "The Pursuit of Happiness" but it still felt so nice to watch.
As for the cast, Vince Vaughn is genius we all know that, Bravo,, but Dave Franco .. come on.. his performance here is applaudable .. he is really heading to be a really renowned actor ... There were more than a handful of really funny hardly laughable scenes for him,, When they're all in the spa and he start saying "boobies ... boobies" and there was another one when they were in the bathroom in the gay bar when he fell down and said "the penis touched my face" and then the slapping with the Japanese guys.. gosh his face expression is priceless :D Tom Wilkinson was fine same goes for most of the characters.
Again the comedy was just okay at the beginning but it really peaked to an exciting level in the hardcore party they were having :D
Overall, i believe any movie has a purpose deserve a chance on the big screen and bullying is a huge matter and it was nice they shone a bit of light on it ,, and the comedy was fresh .. not a Wowzer but still nice and fresh so i found it enjoyable. So it pass 5/10 for the comedy and over 6 for the story ;)
The screenplay was thorough,, the script was "in my opinion" well written, Steve Conrad took this project all by himself and he made it look really genuine ,, yes this is no where near his previous movies like "the weather man", "the promotion" or god knows "The Pursuit of Happiness" but it still felt so nice to watch.
As for the cast, Vince Vaughn is genius we all know that, Bravo,, but Dave Franco .. come on.. his performance here is applaudable .. he is really heading to be a really renowned actor ... There were more than a handful of really funny hardly laughable scenes for him,, When they're all in the spa and he start saying "boobies ... boobies" and there was another one when they were in the bathroom in the gay bar when he fell down and said "the penis touched my face" and then the slapping with the Japanese guys.. gosh his face expression is priceless :D Tom Wilkinson was fine same goes for most of the characters.
Again the comedy was just okay at the beginning but it really peaked to an exciting level in the hardcore party they were having :D
Overall, i believe any movie has a purpose deserve a chance on the big screen and bullying is a huge matter and it was nice they shone a bit of light on it ,, and the comedy was fresh .. not a Wowzer but still nice and fresh so i found it enjoyable. So it pass 5/10 for the comedy and over 6 for the story ;)
- Aktham_Tashtush
- May 30, 2015
- Permalink
I was drawn to Unfinished Business from the first trailer, and the negative reviews didn't do much for my confidence. However, I gave it a go and whilst its not great, its a lot better than the critics are making it out to be.
I watched this on a plane, so it was heavily censored so I missed a lot of jokes. I think this cancels out the fact that I didn't have to see certain scenes that would probably have made me hate the film, so as far as I'm concerned its a tie.
Vince Vaughn hasn't had a good 10 years, but he looks more alive here than he has in other rubbish. Dave Franco and Tom Wilkinson are quite funny as his dual sidekicks, even if they got a bit inconsistent sometimes or stale at others. Franco's bringing a box of personal belongings to a job interview "to seem confident" evoked genuine amusement in me. Sienna Miller plays a smug villain surprisingly well - the fact that I hated her is probably a good indicator that she's doing a good job. James Marsden also does a great job in key scenes.
I imagine the largest complaint with this film is the lack of laughs, which is true and worth knocking off a few stars in and of itself. But I was pleasantly surprised with the family angle that Ken Scott took here, and whilst it was underdeveloped, it showed that there were some nice intentions here. The line that Vaughn's daughter writes at the end probably ended up being the nicest piece of writing in the entire film.
So to conclude, Unfinished Business suffers on laughs and a conventional story, but there's enough good moments here to stop it being a total waste of time.
I watched this on a plane, so it was heavily censored so I missed a lot of jokes. I think this cancels out the fact that I didn't have to see certain scenes that would probably have made me hate the film, so as far as I'm concerned its a tie.
Vince Vaughn hasn't had a good 10 years, but he looks more alive here than he has in other rubbish. Dave Franco and Tom Wilkinson are quite funny as his dual sidekicks, even if they got a bit inconsistent sometimes or stale at others. Franco's bringing a box of personal belongings to a job interview "to seem confident" evoked genuine amusement in me. Sienna Miller plays a smug villain surprisingly well - the fact that I hated her is probably a good indicator that she's doing a good job. James Marsden also does a great job in key scenes.
I imagine the largest complaint with this film is the lack of laughs, which is true and worth knocking off a few stars in and of itself. But I was pleasantly surprised with the family angle that Ken Scott took here, and whilst it was underdeveloped, it showed that there were some nice intentions here. The line that Vaughn's daughter writes at the end probably ended up being the nicest piece of writing in the entire film.
So to conclude, Unfinished Business suffers on laughs and a conventional story, but there's enough good moments here to stop it being a total waste of time.
- luke-a-mcgowan
- Jul 7, 2015
- Permalink
This movie is superficial. The jokes are marginally funny. There were nude scenes. The plot is somewhat predictable, a story of a underdog who eventually pulled it off with persistency and heart despite numeral setbacks. However, I for one can relate to the characters, a lot. I watched the movie on HBO on a Friday night after a long day of work as a small business owner. On this day, I bid on a project of a client who really likes our work but seldom gives projects because of our small size. Later I was told that another client was not happy with the frequency of our communication - a large company's VPs have meeting with her on a daily basis. With about a million things to take care of everyday, I can't imagine to have time to call her everyday just to chat. If you have struggles as a small business owner, which I am sure each has, you will like this movie because you feel that the main character is part of you. You try so hard for your family and your employees, whose livelihood depend on you. So the movie struck me on a day filled with some success and some setback at the same time, a typical day of my life. Who can't say that's not how life is no matter what you do. So the spirit of the character is contagious, and can struck you deep. The movie appears to be superficial. But when you think about it, and relate it to your life, it is not that superficial. In fact, it provoked some deep emotions.
- Jwxujerry-580-428462
- Nov 20, 2015
- Permalink
A comedy comprised of equal parts heart, brains and soul, "Unfinished Business" is so low-keyed and laid-back in its humor that it's practically guaranteed to get lost amidst all the crasser and flashier items that Hollywood has to offer.
The movie reminds us, too, of just how nuanced and instinctive an actor Vince Vaughn can be when he's given material worthy of his talents (check out 1998's unforgettable "Return to Paradise" for definitive proof of this assertion). Vaughn stars as Dan Trunkman, a harried St. Louis businessman and father of two who feels so unappreciated by the firm he works for that he decides to strike out on his own and start his own company. The problem is he's saddled with two less-than-impressive employees to help get the business off the ground: a 67-year-old associate named Tim McWinters (Tom Wilkinson), and a baby-faced neophyte with the giggle-inducing name of Mike Pancake (Dave Franco) whose infectious smile and childlike eagerness at least partially make up for his lack of experience, social graces and smarts. While Dan and his merry band of social misfits try and land a major account in Europe, Dan also faces crises back home with his overweight son and hyper-sensitive daughter who are struggling with issues of self-image and bullying.
It's hard to imagine that we'll encounter a more purely likable character at the movies this year than Mike Pancake. Indefatigable, perpetually smiling and almost pathologically eager to please, Michael represents all of us who are just trying to find validation and acceptance from a world that is all too often looking for ways to marginalize us or put us down. And Franco plays the role with the perfect mixture of unaffected simplicity and pathos to make us care deeply about the character.
The script by Steven Conrad is so self-assured and knowing in its reflection of human nature - especially in those moments of off-the- wall surrealism that come seemingly out of nowhere - that its lapses into crassness and vulgarity are all the more painful and regrettable when they come along. But those occasions are few and far between, and the movie has some endearing things to say about the power of team work, self-esteem and unconquerable determination in getting us the things we need and want out of life.
Directed by Ken Scott, "Unfinished Business" is a scruffy, underdog of a movie that may not be perfect but, thanks to its innate sweetness and delightful performances, certainly gets you in its corner rooting it on.
The movie reminds us, too, of just how nuanced and instinctive an actor Vince Vaughn can be when he's given material worthy of his talents (check out 1998's unforgettable "Return to Paradise" for definitive proof of this assertion). Vaughn stars as Dan Trunkman, a harried St. Louis businessman and father of two who feels so unappreciated by the firm he works for that he decides to strike out on his own and start his own company. The problem is he's saddled with two less-than-impressive employees to help get the business off the ground: a 67-year-old associate named Tim McWinters (Tom Wilkinson), and a baby-faced neophyte with the giggle-inducing name of Mike Pancake (Dave Franco) whose infectious smile and childlike eagerness at least partially make up for his lack of experience, social graces and smarts. While Dan and his merry band of social misfits try and land a major account in Europe, Dan also faces crises back home with his overweight son and hyper-sensitive daughter who are struggling with issues of self-image and bullying.
It's hard to imagine that we'll encounter a more purely likable character at the movies this year than Mike Pancake. Indefatigable, perpetually smiling and almost pathologically eager to please, Michael represents all of us who are just trying to find validation and acceptance from a world that is all too often looking for ways to marginalize us or put us down. And Franco plays the role with the perfect mixture of unaffected simplicity and pathos to make us care deeply about the character.
The script by Steven Conrad is so self-assured and knowing in its reflection of human nature - especially in those moments of off-the- wall surrealism that come seemingly out of nowhere - that its lapses into crassness and vulgarity are all the more painful and regrettable when they come along. But those occasions are few and far between, and the movie has some endearing things to say about the power of team work, self-esteem and unconquerable determination in getting us the things we need and want out of life.
Directed by Ken Scott, "Unfinished Business" is a scruffy, underdog of a movie that may not be perfect but, thanks to its innate sweetness and delightful performances, certainly gets you in its corner rooting it on.
If you were perfectly happy with watching The Internship, The Watch or Delivery Man, then this film will probably be serviceable to you. I however grew tired of seeing seemingly strong comedic concepts and characters flounder in Vince Vaughn's movies and went into this one hoping it would improve on his recent crop of films. Sadly this movie must now be dumped on that crop of mediocrity. It's just too familiar.
What I liked about this movie is that for the most part Vaughn and Franco are likable screen presences and they play their parts well. However that only a positive if you like either of them and they both tend to be very polarising figures. Some of the humour lands quite well, but again you have to be of a particular lowbrow mindset to enjoy this enough. My biggest compliment is that the message is heartfelt and warming. The typical underdogs vs. fat cats in more ways than one, which I found refreshing.
The bad news however is that it's bland(ish) characters, mismanaged story/script and similarities to many a film that has come before hold this movie back. In an attempt to make the film more realistic, the characters are written in a way that shows that no-one is completely good or evil. Which means that the easy form of comedy in this genre is removed which is commendable but wrong. The characters and writing just aren't funny enough to carry this movie in this realistic(ish) way. It's like if the Hangover was merged with the Little Engine that could. It just doesn't work. Finally this movie is exactly what you would expect from Vince Vaughn, except for the fact that given the premise and trailer content, I actually expected this one to be decent. I was wrong.
Essentially if you like an easy movie with fairly low brow and cartoon styled humour this movie will kill a couple of hours for you and you won't feel guilty about it after those hours are dead. Conversely, I'd advise you not to waste your time if none of these things appeal to you. Unfinished business therefore earns a 4/10. I hope Vaughn can salvage his career, he's a talented man but his typecasting will leave his career dead in the water. (I also predict that in a year from now I'll probably have written something similar about Melissa McCarthy).
Thanks for reading this review I hope you found it helpful, if you enjoyed this review please feel free to check out my others and keep and eye for more in the near future.
What I liked about this movie is that for the most part Vaughn and Franco are likable screen presences and they play their parts well. However that only a positive if you like either of them and they both tend to be very polarising figures. Some of the humour lands quite well, but again you have to be of a particular lowbrow mindset to enjoy this enough. My biggest compliment is that the message is heartfelt and warming. The typical underdogs vs. fat cats in more ways than one, which I found refreshing.
The bad news however is that it's bland(ish) characters, mismanaged story/script and similarities to many a film that has come before hold this movie back. In an attempt to make the film more realistic, the characters are written in a way that shows that no-one is completely good or evil. Which means that the easy form of comedy in this genre is removed which is commendable but wrong. The characters and writing just aren't funny enough to carry this movie in this realistic(ish) way. It's like if the Hangover was merged with the Little Engine that could. It just doesn't work. Finally this movie is exactly what you would expect from Vince Vaughn, except for the fact that given the premise and trailer content, I actually expected this one to be decent. I was wrong.
Essentially if you like an easy movie with fairly low brow and cartoon styled humour this movie will kill a couple of hours for you and you won't feel guilty about it after those hours are dead. Conversely, I'd advise you not to waste your time if none of these things appeal to you. Unfinished business therefore earns a 4/10. I hope Vaughn can salvage his career, he's a talented man but his typecasting will leave his career dead in the water. (I also predict that in a year from now I'll probably have written something similar about Melissa McCarthy).
Thanks for reading this review I hope you found it helpful, if you enjoyed this review please feel free to check out my others and keep and eye for more in the near future.
- lilguyollie
- Mar 5, 2015
- Permalink
This film tells the story of a man who impulsively decides to start his own company, because he refuses to take a 5% pay cut from his boss. He hires a makeshift team of two, and together they try to win a contract against his former employer.
"Unfinished Business" is clearly a popcorn film that I'll forget about in a few months. It has a rather silly story, with characters that are quite inept. They keep running into unlikely scenarios, such as going to a gay festival and living in a reality art. I guess that is part of the fun. I think Dave Franco's character stands out the most, because his character is intellectually challenged, and yet he keeps a positive attitude towards life. I think "Unfinished Business" provides adequate brain-off entertainment.
"Unfinished Business" is clearly a popcorn film that I'll forget about in a few months. It has a rather silly story, with characters that are quite inept. They keep running into unlikely scenarios, such as going to a gay festival and living in a reality art. I guess that is part of the fun. I think Dave Franco's character stands out the most, because his character is intellectually challenged, and yet he keeps a positive attitude towards life. I think "Unfinished Business" provides adequate brain-off entertainment.
"Unfinished Business" is a landmark film for one reason and one reason only, and it's the first directorial effort by Ken Scott that doesn't have a plot or a title related to sperm. After directing both the Canadian film "Starbuck" and the American remake "Delivery Man," Scott has set his sights on another subject that, unfortunately, gets bogged down by not only its dirty-minded tendencies but its directionless comedy and narrative as well. "Unfinished Business" is a miserably unfunny film, lumbering from one situation to the next in a stumblebum fashion, making ninety minutes out to be an absolutely laborious affair on all counts.
The film focuses on Daniel Trunkman (Vince Vaughn), who quits his job after his boss Chuck Portnoy (Sienna Miller) tries to make him accept a five percent pay deduction. Just before walking out, he proclaims to his former coworkers that he is working on starting his own business and that anyone who wants to work for a fairer, more honest company should follow him out the door. He's followed by Timothy McWinters (Tom Wilkinson), an elderly man who was also just let go, and Mike Pancake (Dave Franco), a quirky, shy youngster who was interviewing for the business that same day. We fast-forward one year later, seeing the three as broke and clueless as when they started, with their only hope of achieving some income after two stagnant months is a trip to Europe to close the business deal they need in order to continue. Daniel keeps reiterating time and time again that the agreement is only a "handshake" away, but, as expected, and this goes without saying, a load of ridiculous bawdiness follows them overseas and they are left with their own wits and ridiculousness to try and make this deal work.
You may be asking yourself what business are these men in, what is their company about, and what does this insurmountable business deal consist of? You're not alone, reader; I was asking the very same questions while watching the film. Writer Steve Conrad (the same man who penned "The Pursuit of Happiness" and "The Promotion," which detailed something similar to this story in a more entertaining and empathetic way) dances around these ideas, with Daniel, at one point in the film, saying him and his two coworkers are in the business of selling "swarf," or the stray metal shavings that turn up in mass amounts following the construction of a building, a bridge, or some other societal necessity. After that point is established, none the previous questions get answered. The three men talk about how revolutionary this business deal is if it goes through, but nobody takes the time to explain its effects, the monetary impact, what the three men have been doing for the past year while their business sinks like a rock, and so on.
Conrad engages in some of the laziest screen writing I've seen, not only in a narrative sense where nothing is explained or elaborated on, but in the sense that the film never manages to be funny. It lumbers through sight gags and attempts at humor that are so frequently dead-on-arrival I wanted to check the film for a pulse. The only performer on hand that seems to be trying to create some level of character is Dave Franco, an actor I've appreciated in his last few film roles as a goofy soul who can play both clueless but confident or clueless and intimidated very well. Here, he's the latter, and he's often fun when he's responding so nervously to Daniel's requests or must recite his full name (which isn't funny, but the film keeps trying to assert that it is) in the middle of a meeting.
With that, "Unfinished Business" packs nothing but an exhausting array of failed jokes and an empty plot that its caricatures certainly can't rebound and its writing/directing team sure can't save once the cameras begin rolling. To the surprise of some, I'm sure, I defended the last two major raunchy comedies that have been released to theaters, "Hot Tub Time Machine 2" and "The Wedding Ringer," respectively, crediting them for doing their job in not only making me laugh but packing in a little extra something to their formula. "Unfinished Business" is so broken and empty that it can't pack anything extra into its story or formula because there's already so little there. It works as a perfect juxtaposition to the characters' company in the film, as it's a trainwreck that has an audience and nothing more.
The film focuses on Daniel Trunkman (Vince Vaughn), who quits his job after his boss Chuck Portnoy (Sienna Miller) tries to make him accept a five percent pay deduction. Just before walking out, he proclaims to his former coworkers that he is working on starting his own business and that anyone who wants to work for a fairer, more honest company should follow him out the door. He's followed by Timothy McWinters (Tom Wilkinson), an elderly man who was also just let go, and Mike Pancake (Dave Franco), a quirky, shy youngster who was interviewing for the business that same day. We fast-forward one year later, seeing the three as broke and clueless as when they started, with their only hope of achieving some income after two stagnant months is a trip to Europe to close the business deal they need in order to continue. Daniel keeps reiterating time and time again that the agreement is only a "handshake" away, but, as expected, and this goes without saying, a load of ridiculous bawdiness follows them overseas and they are left with their own wits and ridiculousness to try and make this deal work.
You may be asking yourself what business are these men in, what is their company about, and what does this insurmountable business deal consist of? You're not alone, reader; I was asking the very same questions while watching the film. Writer Steve Conrad (the same man who penned "The Pursuit of Happiness" and "The Promotion," which detailed something similar to this story in a more entertaining and empathetic way) dances around these ideas, with Daniel, at one point in the film, saying him and his two coworkers are in the business of selling "swarf," or the stray metal shavings that turn up in mass amounts following the construction of a building, a bridge, or some other societal necessity. After that point is established, none the previous questions get answered. The three men talk about how revolutionary this business deal is if it goes through, but nobody takes the time to explain its effects, the monetary impact, what the three men have been doing for the past year while their business sinks like a rock, and so on.
Conrad engages in some of the laziest screen writing I've seen, not only in a narrative sense where nothing is explained or elaborated on, but in the sense that the film never manages to be funny. It lumbers through sight gags and attempts at humor that are so frequently dead-on-arrival I wanted to check the film for a pulse. The only performer on hand that seems to be trying to create some level of character is Dave Franco, an actor I've appreciated in his last few film roles as a goofy soul who can play both clueless but confident or clueless and intimidated very well. Here, he's the latter, and he's often fun when he's responding so nervously to Daniel's requests or must recite his full name (which isn't funny, but the film keeps trying to assert that it is) in the middle of a meeting.
With that, "Unfinished Business" packs nothing but an exhausting array of failed jokes and an empty plot that its caricatures certainly can't rebound and its writing/directing team sure can't save once the cameras begin rolling. To the surprise of some, I'm sure, I defended the last two major raunchy comedies that have been released to theaters, "Hot Tub Time Machine 2" and "The Wedding Ringer," respectively, crediting them for doing their job in not only making me laugh but packing in a little extra something to their formula. "Unfinished Business" is so broken and empty that it can't pack anything extra into its story or formula because there's already so little there. It works as a perfect juxtaposition to the characters' company in the film, as it's a trainwreck that has an audience and nothing more.
- StevePulaski
- Mar 6, 2015
- Permalink
Yeah, I went ahead and gave it 7 out of 10. I was torn between a 7 or a 6, but I really did enjoy the movie. It made me laugh enough, for sure, and while the story isn't going to win any Academy Awards for originality, the actors did a good job with what they had to work with. The problem I had with this movie is that it tried to be two things at once, and it never really did make up its mind either way. For the most part, it's a lot of crude, rude humor and crazy sex/blatant nudity, but for some reason amidst all of that, the writer(s) keep trying to pull at our heart strings with the Vince Vaughn character's kids having bullying problems at school. Granted, bullying is a pretty hot topic button these days, but I don't really think that a German bath house, wheelbarrow sex in hotel rooms, and a gay fetish club in Berlin is really the platform from which you want to preach it. This movie would have been a lot better if they had picked one genre or the other and just stuck with it. Other than that, this movie isn't really all that bad. Nowhere nearly as bad as The Watch. Some good laughs, the naked people are pretty attractive, and Tom Wilkinson (who ISN'T naked in this film, thank goodness) is refreshingly funny in a rare comedic turn.
- DocEphraimBates
- Jul 16, 2015
- Permalink
This is the worst trash I have ever seen in my life.
I went to see it because of Vince Vaughan and Tom Wilkinson. I thought nothing could go wrong with such 2 capacities. Boy was I wrong.
Nothing wrong with their performances as such, but they really should be more choosy with their material.
As for the humor in the film - not once did I crack a smile. I was disgusted! Quality is a Word I would not use in connection with this film. Is this what American viewers find funny? Almost all the "funny" stuff was below the waist; not funny at all, but just embarrassing.
I suppose you have to be around 12 years old to enjoy this film!
I went to see it because of Vince Vaughan and Tom Wilkinson. I thought nothing could go wrong with such 2 capacities. Boy was I wrong.
Nothing wrong with their performances as such, but they really should be more choosy with their material.
As for the humor in the film - not once did I crack a smile. I was disgusted! Quality is a Word I would not use in connection with this film. Is this what American viewers find funny? Almost all the "funny" stuff was below the waist; not funny at all, but just embarrassing.
I suppose you have to be around 12 years old to enjoy this film!
- willythebarber
- Mar 13, 2015
- Permalink
It has been a while since we have gotten a Vince Vaughn film, this weekend we got unfinished business. Unfinished business is the story of Dan Trunkman, a small business owner, who with the help of his dysfunctional associates, try to close a deal with a big wig European company. Along the way they get themselves in some pretty funny situations, such as a trying to get through a riot and letting of some steam at a rave. This movie also revolves around these characters personal lives and how this big deal is going to change each one of their lives.
This movie definitely has that Vince Vaughn improvised banter feel to it, essentially Vince Vaughn once again plays that same character that he does in every film he does. So if you like his humor and jokes, and you like his movies, I think you will at least find this movie OK, as I did. Dave Franco also played the same character he usually plays, a complete idiot, which is funny, but I think its going to wear thin with me real fast. I enjoyed Tom Wilkinson's character, an old man who just wants to shred it down for his golden years. In my opinion, the strongest part of this film is the chemistry between the actors. These situations and the way they handled them definitely resulted in some great comedy.
The weakest link in this film to me was the writing and the character development. As you watch these guys go through this business trip, You also watch them deal with their personal issues. The issues in which the result of this deal is going to solve. Vince's character is dealing with a son who is dealing with bullying and his wife wants to send him to an expensive private school, Toms character is dealing with divorcing his wife so he can live the things he feels like he missed being in an unhappy marriage, and Dave's character is dealing with becoming someone and growing up. you have all these concepts that I really think are there to create substance to the story and characters, but I ended feeling like these characters really didn't care about these issues. I don't know if it was the way it was written, or the performance's, but I just felt like if there was a little more focus on showing that they really need these changes in their lives, it could have added this whole other layer to the story, making this a really good movie instead of an OK movie.
In the end I thought this was an OK movie, it was funny, it had some great lines and scenes. I just feel if they are going to write in these personal quandaries, I should have felt more when they were resolved. If your looking for a funny movie and you like his comedy I think you will end up enjoying as I did. I'm gonna give Unfinished business a 7 out of 10. I wouldn't run out to see this, but if you do end up seeing it in the theater I don't think you will leave thinking you wasted your money. thanks for reading!
This movie definitely has that Vince Vaughn improvised banter feel to it, essentially Vince Vaughn once again plays that same character that he does in every film he does. So if you like his humor and jokes, and you like his movies, I think you will at least find this movie OK, as I did. Dave Franco also played the same character he usually plays, a complete idiot, which is funny, but I think its going to wear thin with me real fast. I enjoyed Tom Wilkinson's character, an old man who just wants to shred it down for his golden years. In my opinion, the strongest part of this film is the chemistry between the actors. These situations and the way they handled them definitely resulted in some great comedy.
The weakest link in this film to me was the writing and the character development. As you watch these guys go through this business trip, You also watch them deal with their personal issues. The issues in which the result of this deal is going to solve. Vince's character is dealing with a son who is dealing with bullying and his wife wants to send him to an expensive private school, Toms character is dealing with divorcing his wife so he can live the things he feels like he missed being in an unhappy marriage, and Dave's character is dealing with becoming someone and growing up. you have all these concepts that I really think are there to create substance to the story and characters, but I ended feeling like these characters really didn't care about these issues. I don't know if it was the way it was written, or the performance's, but I just felt like if there was a little more focus on showing that they really need these changes in their lives, it could have added this whole other layer to the story, making this a really good movie instead of an OK movie.
In the end I thought this was an OK movie, it was funny, it had some great lines and scenes. I just feel if they are going to write in these personal quandaries, I should have felt more when they were resolved. If your looking for a funny movie and you like his comedy I think you will end up enjoying as I did. I'm gonna give Unfinished business a 7 out of 10. I wouldn't run out to see this, but if you do end up seeing it in the theater I don't think you will leave thinking you wasted your money. thanks for reading!
- Thefilmhead65411
- Mar 7, 2015
- Permalink
- kevin_bm_tang
- Jul 2, 2015
- Permalink
- George_IMDB
- Jul 10, 2015
- Permalink
I will make this brief ; if you are a thirteen year old boy with very little life experience and find having a last name like Pancake hilarious, you might enjoy this. If you enjoy gratuitous nudity and sad exaggeration of hypothetical European behaviors, you might enjoy this. For the rest of us, it will be a waste of time we will never get back. Actually I can't help to wonder if a thirteen year might have actually written this awful mess. I consider having a large leeway of tolerance for bad scripts but I actually felt sad for the actors who had to say the lines. It is not even close to being funny, I mean not even a hint of humor to be found. Stay clear of this one. Consider yourselves warned.
- olivierthery
- Nov 6, 2015
- Permalink