Cinema Scholars takes a look at the new comedy Lady of the Manor. The film is written and directed by Justin Long and Christian Long and stars Melanie Lynskey, Judy Greer, Ryan Phillippe, and Justin Long.
Introduction
In the world of film comedy, the sillier the premise the better. A matchup between Abbott and Costello and Frankenstein? Why not? A nerdy professor invents a serum that inconsistently transforms him into a stud? Yes, please! Two slackers parade their dead boss around as if he’s still alive for an entire weekend? Hmm, well…
There have certainly been some stretchers in humorous cinematic history. Nevertheless, it has been proven time and time again that some of the greatest comedies don’t always make perfect sense. While most people can agree that there’s nothing quite as satisfying as an intelligent comedy full of witty dialogue and clever “a-ha” commentary, sometimes even the snobbiest cinephile can enjoy some pure silliness. The new comedy Lady of the Manor feels reminiscent of such carefree knee-slappers of the past…in a good way.
The Premise
The story follows Hannah (Melanie Lynskey), an unapologetic slacker whose main source of income is delivering weed around her historic hometown of Savannah, GA. When Hannah falls on tough luck due to a set of incredibly misunderstood set of circumstances, she takes the first employment opportunity available; a tour guide in a local historical home. Instead of a regular docent-type gig. However, Hannah must conduct her tours in the character and full costume of the original owner of the mansion, Lady Wadsworth.
Tanner Wadsworth (Ryan Phillippe), the unhappy heir and recently appointed manager of Wadsworth Manor, is less than thrilled with his new responsibility and may have hired Hannah with dubious intentions. Nevertheless, Hannah cluelessly tackles her new job with her usual misguided aplomb.
While regaling tourists with misinformation about the historical manor goes mostly unnoticed, a new attendee takes offense to Hannah’s misrepresentation- the ghost of the manor herself, Lady Wadsworth (Judy Greer). The genteel phantom is not amused with Hannah’s unflattering depiction. From here, they forge an unlikely team in restoring the heritage of the manor while teaching Hannah some much-needed etiquette along the way.
Analysis
Lady of the Manor is not the type of film to be dissected and analyzed. It is a wacky comedy that should simply be enjoyed at face value. Writing/directing duo Justin Long (yes, that one) and Christian Long embrace the absurdity in their first feature foray with a raunchy comedy that ends up being a funny little character study.
While the Longs lean a bit too much on the crude humor at some points, other familiar comedic tropes help strike a decent balance. From a spiritual house cleansing montage to a sequence depicting Hannah’s Pygmalion-like transformation, The Lady of the Manor is packed with nutty situations for the clueless protagonist to trip her way through.
A cringe-worthy romantic subplot between Hannah and Tanner feels somewhat mean and unnecessary, though their entanglement does serve as a fun stage for some ridiculous antics. Thankfully, the daftness of the characters helps dampen any legitimate concerns about questionable behavior or predicaments.
Casting
It would be tough to imagine the film working without the comedic genius of Melanie Lynskey. Her exceedingly nuanced portrayal of half-baked Hannah is a study in making bad behavior likable. While even Lynskey’s expertise and impeccable timing can barely save Hannah from her incorrigible self, she somehow maintains an earnest cluelessness that makes up for the utter foolishness.
As Lady Wadsworth, Judy Greer goes full-period in look and manner, and it’s an absolute delight to behold. While playing up the antebellum aura, Greer’s Lady is certainly no shrinking violet with her disdain for 21st-century tendencies. Though her character does get to join in on the bawdy fun, Greer’s southern lilt and ladylike wit hit the perfect notes amid the sometimes tiresome toilet humor.
More clutch casting comes in Ryan Phillippe’s portrayal of the rich, spoiled Tanner Wadsworth. With a combination of dangerously good looks and epic comedic timing, Phillippe (for better or worse) seems born to play this level of over-the-top douchery. He’s just so funny at being terrible that it’s easy to forget about the amount of skill it takes to pull off such an insufferable character with a hilarious performance.
Justin Long also appears in front of the camera as Max, a history professor who helps Hannah in her bumbling plight to reconcile the history of the manor. Long keeps it simple as the straight man to Hannah’s slapstick but eventually gets to join in on some of the crazy, including an intentionally troublesome southern accent. An unlikely romantic subplot between Max and Hannah feels a bit contrived, but is anyone questioning narrative validity in a ghost buddy film?
Final Thoughts
Speaking of unlikely scenarios, there is one major plot twist in Lady Wadsworth’s history that (without giving anything away) would be next to impossible in a post-Civil War south. While it seems all the rage to envision alternative scenarios around historical events, this plot point seems sadly and ironically laughable.
Despite some minor missteps, Lady of the Manor is a fun, silly, and sometimes sweet story that pairs a ridiculous premise with an incredible cast of performers. The Longs have crafted a clever off-color comedy in the vein of zany classics. If an escape from the heaviness of recent reality sounds like a good idea, leave the film snobbery behind and get goofy with Lady of the Manor.
Lady of the Manor will open in Select Theaters, on Digital and On Demand courtesy of Lionsgate on September 17, 2021 with the Blu-ray and DVD release to follow on September 21, 2021.
