What’s Your Number? That’s the titular question of the new Anna Faris romantic comedy. Based on the book 20 Times a Lady, What’s Your Number follows Ally in her quest to find the perfect ex because it is her belief - thanks to a woman’s magazine article - that women who have slept with more than 20 men have trouble finding a husband.
Ally’s number is 19.
What works about the film’s concept is witnessing Ally rediscover her exes which allows the audience to enjoy a stellar group of comic actors doing their best cameos. The first to strike a chord is Disgusting Donald played by Faris’ real life husband, Chris Pratt. He is the first boyfriend that she truly believes is the one who got away - that is until Ally meets his nuclear biologist former model fiance. Pratt is his usual hysterical self and it is a pure joy to see him and his wife shine on screen. Other exes include Joel McHale, Andy Samberg and Thomas Lennon, although a funny scene between Faris and Samberg from the trailer is not in the film. But Faris’ moments with Samberg that are in the film are gut-busting hilarious.
The key to What’s Your Number’s success or failure lies with Anna Faris (read our interview with Anna earlier this week). Her star power has never been brighter than it is in the film. She is a modern day Lucille Ball with her comic timing and facial funniness.
Faris can incite a laugh simply by a look -- a rare commodity. She carries the film and it is because of her talents that this romantic comedy is both romantic and funny. The actress is particularly on point in her scenes with co-star Chris Evans (who we also interviewed about the film).
Evans, otherwise known as Captain America, shows a comic repartee that has only been previously hinted at. When it comes to physical comedy, he excels going toe-to-toe with the queen of physical comedy in Faris. His Colin lives across the hall and in exchange for being able to hide out away from women he has hooked up with the night before, he promises to help Faris find her 19 former partners.
Their attraction is immediate, and in a sense, formulaic. Audience sees cute guy with protagonist girl and their connection can be seen a mile away. But credit is due to Faris and Evans as they navigate the storyline, moving their potential romance ever closer inch by inch. Even though we’ve seen it before, audiences pull for the duo to become a couple.
Whether they do or not, you’ll have to see. In the hands of Faris and Evans, the journey of What's Your Number is worth the ride.
