Spin Me Round (2022)

2 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Pasta Dross

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

If Alison Brie had been making romantic comedies in the 1990s, she might have been one of "America's Sweethearts," along with Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, and Sandra Bullock. She has that special blend of adorable with occasional flashes of beautiful, all while being funny. Her role in Spin Me Round has the same ingredients as some of the rom-com classics, but unfortunately, the movie "spins" itself out of control, into a weirdly convoluted "mystery" story that doesn't really go anywhere special. Brie plays Amber, a manager of an Italian chain restaurant, the kind that serves fettuccine with Alfredo sauce from a plastic squeeze bag. She's told she has been selected to go to a retreat at an Italian villa to learn more about Italian cooking and culture. She shares the trip with five other kooky people: Tim Heidecker, Zach Woods, Debby Ryan, Ayden Mayeri and, at her most annoying, Molly Shannon.

Unfortunately, they drive past the beautiful villa to a crappy little hotel, and the "retreat" consists of trust exercises and a viewing of Life Is Beautiful on a rolling video cart. The owner of the chain, Nick Martucci (Alessandro Nivola), has his first-in-command Kat (Aubrey Plaza) lure Amber to his yacht, where they spend a dreamy day. Unfortunately, it seems the other attractive women in the group, Jen (Mayeri) and Susie (Ryan), are also being lured to the yacht. Amber and Dana (Woods) jump to conclusions, assuming that something sinister is going on, launching into some clumsy, and unfunny, detective work. Fred Armisen appears in one of his trademark weirdo supporting roles, and Lil Rel Howery has almost nothing to do in his supporting role. One thing the movie does do right is music: the legendary Pino Donaggio provided the score, and there are deep-cut songs by Roxy Music, The Alan Parsons Project, Bauhaus, and Goblin.