Friday, August 19, 2022
flickfeast
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute
  • Submissions
    • Advertise on Flickfeast
    • Submit a Film
No Result
View All Result
flickfeast
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute
  • Submissions
    • Advertise on Flickfeast
    • Submit a Film
No Result
View All Result
FLICKFEAST
No Result
View All Result
Home Feature

Delivery Man (2013)

Katie Smith-Wong by Katie Smith-Wong
January 8, 2014
in Feature, Film Review
14
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ken Scott’s 2011 French-Canadian film Starbuck was the most Quebec-made successful film within the region that year, yet even though it has been adapted for Bollywood and French audiences in subsequent years, it is still relatively unheard of outside of Canada.  Now, it seems that Scott is pulling a ‘Michael Haneke’ and remaking his own film for US audiences.

The-Delivery-Man2

You might also like

EIFF 2022: Special Delivery (2021) – Film Review

EIFF 2022: Full Time (A Plein Temps) – Film Review

EIFF 2022: Flux Gourmet (2022) – Film Review

Delivery Man tells the story of hapless David Wozniak (Vince Vaughn); the ‘family loser’, hugely in debt and expectant father with girlfriend Emma (Cobie Smulders).  His life is soon turned upside down when he discovers that he is the father of 533 children, due to an error at the sperm bank where he used to donate as a student.  142 have since filed a lawsuit to reveal the identity of the father, known under the alias ‘Starbuck’.  Now faced with new responsibilities, David decides to act as a guardian angel to each child in the lawsuit, while debating whether to go public with his identity.

The-Delivery-Man1

The film follows in the footsteps of Funny Games and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in revamping an already established film just for fickle English-speaking audiences.  At first glance, it almost seems like a shame that Scott has to resort to ‘selling-out’ his film so that it can get more mainstream recognition and on the most part, it falls short of being more than schmaltzy.  The plot is incredulous and predictable in places, while Smulders is wasted in her role as the long-suffering Emma.  David’s friendship with lawyer Brett (Chris Pratt) highlights an almost competitive on-screen chemistry between the two actors – it looks like one is trying to top the other in the comedic stakes but considering the context, it is not really the best scenario to see who comes across as the funniest.

The-Delivery-Man3

On the other hand, there are some touching scenes, such as David’s tentative relationships with several of his children, as well as the man-to-man chat between him and his immigrant father Mikolaj (Andrzej Blumenfeld).  Aside the initial doubts of whether Vaughn can actually be serious in his performance rather than the man-child he normally plays, he manages to put in a watchable yet awkward performance, ultimately leaving Pratt to provide the funnies (where necessary).

At the end of the day, Delivery Man presents itself as a vehicle for Vaughn to break out of his comfort zone, but the lukewarm performances and ‘Americanisaton’ of Starbuck ultimately underwhelm against the original material.

Delivery Man is out in UK cinemas on Friday 10th January.

Director: Ken Scott
Stars: Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders
Runtime: 105 min
Country: USA

Film Rating: ★★½☆☆

Tags: Andrzej Blumenfeldchris prattcobie smulderscomedyDelivery MandramaKen ScottremakeStarbuckVince Vaughn
Katie Smith-Wong

Katie Smith-Wong

Related Posts

EIFF 2022: Special Delivery (2021) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Special Delivery (2021) – Film Review

by Dallas King
August 18, 2022
EIFF 2022: Full Time (A Plein Temps) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Full Time (A Plein Temps) – Film Review

by Dallas King
August 17, 2022
EIFF 2022: Flux Gourmet (2022) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Flux Gourmet (2022) – Film Review

by Dallas King
August 16, 2022
EIFF 2022: Special Delivery (2021) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: LOLA (2022) – Film Review

by Dallas King
August 15, 2022
EIFF 2022: Millie Lies Low (2021) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Millie Lies Low (2021) – Film Review

by Dallas King
August 15, 2022

Recommended

Mother’s Day (2010)

October 23, 2011

Potty About Potter

December 10, 2021

Don't miss it

EIFF 2022: Special Delivery (2021) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Special Delivery (2021) – Film Review

August 18, 2022
EIFF 2022: Full Time (A Plein Temps) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Full Time (A Plein Temps) – Film Review

August 17, 2022
EIFF 2022: Flux Gourmet (2022) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Flux Gourmet (2022) – Film Review

August 16, 2022
EIFF 2022: Special Delivery (2021) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: LOLA (2022) – Film Review

August 15, 2022
EIFF 2022: Millie Lies Low (2021) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Millie Lies Low (2021) – Film Review

August 15, 2022
The Feast
Film Review

The Feast (2022) – Film Review

August 17, 2022
flickfeast

Whetting your appetite for cinema with the best film reviews and features since 2009

© Copyright - flickfeast. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute

© Copyright - flickfeast. All Rights Reserved.

Posting....