The Little Hours – A Gratuitously Unfunny Comedy

Time for a raunchy female comedy boasting an impressive cast.

Synopsis: Medieval nuns Alessandra, Fernanda, and Ginevra lead a simple life in their convent. Their days are spent chafing at monastic routine, spying on one another, and berating the estate’s day laborer. After a particularly vicious insult session drives the peasant away, Father Tommasso brings on new hired hand Massetto, a virile young servant forced into hiding by his angry lord. Introduced to the sisters as a deaf-mute to discourage temptation, Massetto struggles to maintain his cover as the repressed nunnery erupts in a whirlwind of pansexual horniness, substance abuse, and wicked revelry.  (Mongrel Media)

Starring: Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, and Kate Micucci

Writer: Jeff Baena

Director: Jeff Baena

Rating: 14A (Canada)/R (United States)

Running Time: 90mins

Trailer: 

There aren’t that many historical comedies out there so that was what made this one feel fresh but that only went so far. A film about a trio of outrageously offensive fourteenth century nuns (Brie, Plaza, and Micucci) seemed like a promising concept, however, it just wasn’t funny. Although some may be offended by the film’s comedy, it’s gratuitous nature simply didn’t work with the rest of the film or add anything to it.

The comedy along with the fact that there wasn’t much of a plot here made this a boring watch. The production values were there with the costumes and the various set designs but it was very difficult to care about what was going on for the most part as most of the character lacked development. The most compelling character was a servant named Massetto (Dave Franco) who sought refuge at the convent in order to hide from his former master Lord Bruno (Nick Offerman). In exchange for refuge, he had to pretend to be a deaf mute which was easier said than done (pun intended) considering the people he was with.

It wasn’t easy for him to fight his own urges, the nuns were in the same position, fighting to suppress their own urges. This created a rivalry between the nuns as they competed for Massetto’s attention. Unlike The Beguiled, this was mostly one-sided seeing that he couldn’t fight back as it would reveal his true identity. Some of these encounters were kind of funny but they didn’t amount to much. This whole facade was obviously not going to last forever so when it ended, it did in a spectacularly outrageous fashion.

While what was happening may not have always made the most sense, the chemistry between Brie, Plaza, and Micucci was the best part of the film. Their relationship was genuine and believable. Despite not being overly funny, they were still fun to watch together. The best of the three was Micucci who definitely goes for it here. Franco was great and somewhat engaging to watch, pretending to be a deaf mute and had decent chemistry with the leads. John C. Riley as Father Tommasso was also fun.

Overall, this was a mediocre, unfunny historical comedy which ultimately may appeal to a certain audience that is at least watchable thanks to the chemistry between its three leads, Brie, Plaza, and Micucci.

Score: 5/10

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.