Table 19 (2017)

In many ways Table 19 is the quintessential Anna Kendrick movie. It's fairly awkward, somewhat charming, a bit adorable, not overly long on depth, and hard to dislike. It's pretty much any Anna Kendrick role, or at least the image she has started to become. I think Kendrick has a great deal of talent and potential but, like many in Hollywood, outside of a handful of roles that show that off, she gets slotted into these sorts of roles (awkward, charming, adorable, short on depth) and that's what we begin to expect of her. She is at risk of becoming a cliche of herself and Table 19 is not helping.

Table 19 is not terrible. There were many parts I enjoyed. But the film is thin, thin, thin on plot, character development, and engagement and mostly skates by on the charm of its cast. Robinson and Kudrow are an inspired couple if their story arc wasn't so cliche and wrapped up all to easily. Squibb is always a delight and is one of the highlights of the film. Mercahnt and Revolori are oddly placed here (I get they are supposed to be odd - but they feel odd even in this context). And then there is Kendrick in the midst of it all being Kendrick and not holding a rather pedantic film together.

I like a good "day in the life" movie which follows a group of misfits through a pivotal moment in their lives but it needs to feel more honest than this. There are moments where I felt it was almost working. I liked the wedding cover band playing 80s hits as the soundtrack. I liked that the film doesn't go where you think it will with Kendrick's romance. But it never quite gels into something more than forgettable.

I recommend Kendrick stop playing to her strengths and push herself outside her comfort zone or else all she'll get is films like Table 19.

Table 19
Starring: Anna Kendrick, June Squibb, Craig Robinson, Lisa Kudrow, Stephen Merchant, Tony Revolori
Writer/Director: Jeffery Blitz