LeBron James Getting Praised For His Delivery In "Trainwreck" Supporting Role
Cavaliers F LEBRON JAMES "has earned rave reviews for spoofing himself in 'TRAINWRECK,'" which is being released nationwide Friday, according to Troy Smith of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. The film is getting "stellar reviews on Rotten Tomatoes," but most industry experts project the film to "finish a distant third" this weekend behind "ANT-MAN" and "MINIONS" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/17). The movie stars AMY SCHUMER and BILL HADER, and James plays the best friend of Hader's character, Aaron. Dir JUDD APATOW said James was “crazy funny” in the movie “in an irritating way, because he’s so good at so many things.” Apatow: “He really is funny, and even people who root against him, when they see the movie, they decide they like him.” He said of directing James, “As a kind of small, unathletic man, there’s nothing I enjoy more than bossing people around who could normally dominate me. But on that set I’m totally dominating him”("Today,” NBC, 7/13). NBC's Jimmy Fallon said to Hader, “You act great against LeBron James. It’s almost like you guys have been buddies for like 25 years. Did you even think you had chemistry with LeBron James?” Hader replied laughing, “No.” Hader said in one scene he plays one-on-one against James and “it was awful." He said, "Judd Apatow would be like, ‘Just go up for a layup,’ and then I would get denied, just swatting everything.” Hader: “Then on one take I scored a layup on him and I ruined the take because I scored and I started celebrating” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 7/16).
WE KNOW FUNNY: SPORTSNET.ca's Dave Zarum wrote James during a screening of the film on Wednesday "stole some of the biggest laughs." Whether it was his "soon-to-be-signature deadpan stare, pinpoint comedic timing and improvisation, or line readings as smooth as his jumper, James stole every scene he was in" (SPORTSNET.ca, 7/16). In Minneapolis, Colin Covert writes one of the movie's "greatest highlights is a beyond-brilliant performance" by James playing himself, "which would earn him an MVP award in any championship comedy team" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/17). In Seattle, Moira Macdonald wrote if the "basketball thing doesn’t work out, someone should get this guy his own rom-com." James' "exuberance and timing, particularly when he suddenly starts quoting Kanye West, are terrific" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/16). BUSINESS INSIDER's Jason Guerrasio wrote it "feels like a stretch that James would ever be buddy-buddy with a sports doctor in real life, but for a comedy it’s incredibly effective, and that’s thanks to the surprising acting chops of the four-time NBA MVP." James "knows how to deliver a joke and looks calm in front of the camera" (BUSINESSINSIDER.com, 7/16). In Chicago, Michael Phillips wrote James portrays a "penny-pinching, 'Downton Abbey' version of himself" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/15). In Phoenix, Bill Goodykoontz writes James is playing a "miserly version of himself and doing it really well -- he's funny" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/17). SLATE.com's Miriam Krule writes James is the "best part of this movie" (SLATE.com, 7/17). James is a "surprisingly limber comic presence" who "helps set up a sharp scene" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/17). He is a "comedic revelation" (AP, 7/15).
DON'T EXPECT TOO MUCH: In Akron, Rich Heldenfels wrote James, "though very funny in the film, is a supporting player, appearing in a handful of scenes, far less often than implied in some of the promotion for the movie" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 7/16).
