The Little Hours
This is a story about three young nuns in 14th Century Spain whose sexual angst becomes a bit of a problem. Interestingly, none of them remotely cared.
The Little Hours is one of those movies that falls short of expectations yet should be seen by anyone with a demented streak. Though this is a film where most of the very funny moments were seen in the previews, it is insanely irreverent from beginning to end.
Loosely based on Bocaccio’s legendary “Decameron” and taking place in 1387, it tells the tale of three sexually tormented young nuns living in a convent in Spain. The young sisters are bored to death and they are a profanely foul-mouthed group full of piss and vinegar.
The movie is fun to watch given the wild performances of Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza and Kate Micucci as the three nuns known as Sisters Alessandra, Fernanda and Ginerva. Their joy in physically abusing gardeners who offend them is short circuited when the handsome Massetto (Dave Franco) appears at the nunnery as a replacement. Trouble looms as our girls try to find a way to get into his pants as quickly as possible.
In an expected crazed performance, John C. Reilly plays Father Tommasso, the alleged head of the convent. However, it soon becomes clear that he is dedicated not so much to Jesus as to secretly drinking sacramental wine in the evenings. He also finds time to pursue a sexual relationship with Sister Marea (Molly Shannon), an older nun who is overseeing our wicked sisters.
Chaos ensues at every turn. As an example, a couple of the sisters, one high on cooked mushrooms, kidnap Massetto at knifepoint and tie him to a concrete slab as multiple colleagues dance around him in a dark forest totally naked. I don’t think I have to explain why this movie has been condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency.
While there are supporting performances from Fred Armisen (Bishop Bartolomeo) and Nick Offerman (Lord Bruno) that will leave you both laughing and shaking your head, our “pray now and f– – k later” nuns command your attention. Ms. Plaza’s talent was previously on display in TV’s “Parks and Recreation” and the hysterical film The To Do List (2013), and you should see Ms. Miccuci in last year’s hidden gem Don’t Think Twice.
In any event, if you are in the mood to laugh at spirited sexual nonsense, then you may surprisingly find this film to be a ludicrously enjoyable way to spend one and a half hours in a movie theater.
