Hailed as Hollywood’s breakout star of the year, comedian Amy Schumer writes and stars in the critically acclaimed hit comedy “Trainwreck” from director Judd Apatow (“Knocked Up”). The film which will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide starting Aug. 26.
In “Trainwreck,” it’s been drilled into Amy’s (Schumer) head since she was a little girl that monogamy isn’t realistic. Now a magazine writer, Amy lives by that credo—enjoying what she feels is an uninhibited life free from stifling, boring romantic commitment—but in actuality, she’s kind of in a rut. When she finds herself starting to fall for the subject of the new article she’s writing, a charming and successful sports doctor named Aaron Conners (Bill Hader), Amy starts to wonder if other grown-ups, including this guy who really seems to like her, might be on to something.
Schumer gave herself permission to go very personal with her story and wove in elements from her own past struggles with familial and romantic relationships, as well as her internal battles growing up. Naturally, her film avatar would take every one of the real Amy’s own experiences to the extreme. Her script told the tale of a young professional in Manhattan with a great job, a nice apartment and a guy she’s seeing who is into her more than she is into him. “Trainwreck’s” Amy lives the life of a modern woman with a social life governed by two simple rules for a fun night out: Don’t give them your phone number and never, ever sleep over.
Her producers appreciated that their writer and star was delivering a character who could have been a stock one, but is instead so much more complex. “Everybody knows somebody who’s like Amy’s character in this movie,” provides producer Barry Mendel. “They’re the wild one who is probably not going to settle down. They’re having a lot more fun than we’re having, and they’re unapologetic about it.”
Admittedly not a model of moral integrity, straight-talking Amy considers herself a sexual girl who does what she wants, even if it means ending up doing the walk of shame among early morning commuters with whom she takes the Staten Island ferry. “I would say she thinks she’s happy, she thinks she’s fine and nothing’s wrong,” adds Schumer. “From the outside we know this is really self-destructive, and this girl’s not okay. But she doesn’t know that.”
Apatow found this protagonist a fascinating one to explore in comedy. “She’s a person who maintains distance from people by having a lot of relationships and cheating on people and drinking and smoking pot,” the director states. “She’s avoiding intimacy by having a lot of contact with a lot of people.”
“Trainwreck” also stars Brie Larson, John Cena, Vanessa Bayer, Mike Birbiglia, Ezra Miller, Dave Attell, Tilda Swinton and LeBron James.
Distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures, “Trainwreck” will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide starting August 26.
