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Boston Globe

‘Oh, Hi' will fill you with ‘Misery'

Molly Gordon as Iris and Logan Lerman as Isaac in 'Oh, Hi!' Sony Pictures Classics This movie is a textbook example of the Idiot Plot. That's a story that requires everyone to act like an idiot in order for the movie to work. Mere common sense on anyone's part would cause the entire enterprise to collapse. As it adds extraneous characters, 'Oh, Hi!' becomes so frustrating and unbelievable that I wanted to yell advice at the screen. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Iris (Molly Gordon) and Isaac ( Advertisement Is it unfair that I'm comparing this plot to a horror movie where a psychopath tortures her captive with needles and sledgehammers? I think not. For starters, despite all its nastiness, 'Misery' is funnier than 'Oh, Hi!' Advertisement Still from 'Oh, Hi!' Sony Pictures Classics Additionally, though Iris is a sociopath-in-training whose methods of torture are only emotionally violent, Brooks hints at the potential for horror movie comparisons. The film opens with ominous music as Iris greets her friend, Max (Geraldine Viswanathan). 'I did something bad,' she says before we flashback 33 hours prior. The next 30 minutes or so chronicles the relationship between Iris and Isaac as they travel to the rural town of High Falls for a romantic getaway at a nice house. These early scenes are where 'Oh, Hi!' fires on all cylinders. Both actors give great back-and-forth banter, and their sexual couplings clearly indicate they're in the honeymoon phase of their courtship. David Cross as Steve in 'Oh, Hi!' Sony Pictures Classics Even when they're not having sex, they exude so much horny heat that a nosy neighbor, Steve (David Cross) thinks they're fornicating in the lake outside his house. The scenario is impossible because, as Iris points out, she is wearing a one-piece bathing suit. Steve isn't the only one prone to misunderstanding what these two are doing. Iris thinks this is their first trip as a couple. Isaac doesn't even think they're a couple—he envisions them as friends with benefits. Since neither party has discussed their relationship status, misunderstandings were inevitable. Iris is so upset when Isaac reveals his true feelings that she panics, leaving him strapped to the bed. And that's before she gets the idea to keep him there. Advertisement Geraldine Viswanathan as Max, John Reynolds as Kenny in 'Oh, Hi!' Sony Pictures Classics A good dark comedy could milk this for all it's worth by turning the situation into a battle of wits. But remember, everyone here is required to act like an idiot. This includes Max, whom Iris calls for help when she realizes that she's committing a criminal act, and Max's boyfriend, Kenny (John Reynolds). The trio floats the idea of killing Isaac, but all opt to keep him entrapped. 'Oh, HI!' makes the fatal mistake of thinking that Iris is so lovable that you'll forgive anything she does. Gordon plays her as amicable and fun in the first half, but once she hatches her kidnapping plan, the movie can't redeem her. Does she really expect this man will ever trust her again? The final scenes are a shot of redemption the movie can't sell. It doesn't make sense to say that 'Oh, Hi!' would play differently if the roles were reversed. We've already had plenty of horrifying movies where women are held against their will. Plus, I don't think Brooks intends to imply that this material goes down easier because the victim is a man. However, gender roles do come into play, because this film is built on the 'women be acting crazy' and 'men ain't [expletive]' cliches of hacky stand-up comedy routines. Neither trope does the film any favors. ★1/2 OH, HI! Written and directed by Sophie Brooks. Starring Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, John Reynolds, Geraldine Viswanathan, David Cross, Polly Draper. At Coolidge Corner, AMC Boston Common, Alamo Drafthouse Seaport, suburbs. 94 min. R (sex, nudity, language) Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.