Kristen Wiig’s latest movie, Girl Most Likely, hits theaters today. Directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (American Splendor), the movie stars Wiig as a failed playwright who fakes a suicide attempt to attract her ex-boyfriend’s sympathies, only to wind up in the custody of her degenerate mother (Annette Benning). What’s surprising is that Girl Most Likely – Kristen Wiig’s first starring role since Bridesmaids two summers ago – is receiving overwhelmingly negative reviews and the studio is releasing it in a scant 300-something theaters.
Review aggregators Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic gave A Girl Most Likely a 16% and 35/100, respectively. Rotten Tomatoes’ summary of the reviews reads, “Largely witless and disappointingly dull, Girl Most Likely strands the gifted Kristen Wiig in a blandly hollow foray into scattershot sitcom territory.†USA Today calls it, “A failure from start to finish.†Richard Roeper of The Chicago-Sun Times found Girl Most Likely to be, “A forgettable movie with a forgettable title about forgettable characters I’d just as soon as forget.†Despite the bad things critics have to say about the film, most of them were complimentary of Kristen Wiig, Annette Benning, and supporting actor Matt Dillon’s performances. “Wiig really shines in the film, proving that her finely honed comic timing can make a character work even when the film ultimately doesn’t,†The Playlist writes. While the actors emerged unscathed from critics, most agree that the problem lies with Girl Most Likely’s screenplay and direction. The A.V. Club contends, “The blame belongs most plainly with Michelle Morgan’s script, which requires this gifted comedian to play straight woman to a supporting carnival of Indiewood types.†If you’re excited to see Kristen Wiig star in a movie again, maybe it’s for the best to just wait until her supporting turn in Anchorman 2 this Christmas.