Movie Review: Delivery Man

Movie Review: Delivery Man

Rated PG-13

105 minutes

Directed by Ken Scott

When you're strolling by without a care in the world, you see a poster for a movie called Delivery Man. You go home and read about it, unsure whether or not you should see it. I know whether or not it's mediocre, great, or just plain bad. Join in, won't you? 

Lock down, Lock down, there's a strange man in the room with all the children!

Delivery Man is a mixed bag. It isn't laugh-out loud funny when it's trying to be funny. The drama isn't as effective as it wants to be in some circumstances. The cast, besides Vince Vaughn, isn't given enough to do, and are just relegated to the sidelines for Vince Vaughn to 'shine'. The script could've balanced the comedy and the drama much better, and it could've removed the mob subplot altogether, as it adds absolutely nothing to the story outside of some tension that never feels real. The tension never feels real because the movie is very cliche, and you know where it's going to end up in the end.

There is also a huge amount of circumstance in this movie. Apparently, Vince Vaughn's character, David Wozinak, is an omniscient god. David knows exactly where his children are at all times. One of his kids is walking down the street, and David is trailing her. One of his kids is on a bus, and out of thousands of buses, David is on the one that his child is on. Also, It seems like all the 142 kids that make themselves known are all living in New York. Wouldn't some of them move? It just has glaring problems like this that make me sigh.

Close off the park, there's a strange man hanging out with the children!

However, this movie has an endearing, almost honest quality to it. It feels warm and empathetic, and I liked that. Additionally, one of David's kids is mentally disabled. In some other movie, it could've been a joke. But, they don't make fun of it, and the scenes with the disabled kid are some of the best in the movie. Additionally, Vince Vaughn does tone it down in this movie. He is softer and more gentle, and it works for this film. He may not deliver a performance that will be remembered for a lifetime, but for this movie, it works in my opinion. It's just a shame that some of the other cast members aren't given as much to do as him, as they could've excelled in larger roles. 

Security, there's a grown man talking to attractive teenagers...

Although Delivery Man offers some pure moments of heart, the movie that's surrounding it is far too cliche and convenient to sustain these genuine moments of empathy that are in this movie. If you are looking for a warm comedy to watch with the family, it's in Delivery Man somewhere, but it never becomes fully realized. 

2.5/5

C