Sometimes, a movie hinges on the energy of its lead. Plan B, the latest comedy from writer-director Brandon Tamburri, is one such film, and Jamie Lee (HBO’s Crashing) delivers a fearless, uproarious performance that elevates this uneven but undeniably funny ride.

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Lee stars as Piper, a messy, thirty-something coffeeshop worker/struggling writer, trying to parlay her disastrous dating life into a memoir deal. Her opening scene – a drunken stumble home that leads to an impulsive hookup with her awkward neighbor Evan (Jon Heder, of Napoleon Dynamite fame) – sets the tone for a chaotic comedy of errors. Two weeks later, Piper finds out she’s pregnant and kicks off a harebrained scheme to find a “better” father for her unborn child than the hapless Evan.

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Piper’s motivations are rooted in her own painful childhood, having been raised in foster care after losing both parents. Her quest for the perfect partner feels more like a desperate attempt to rewrite her past than a sound plan for her future. The result? A series of funny and cringe-worthy dates that deliver some of the film’s best laughs.

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Evan, meanwhile, is the poster boy for man-child mediocrity. Between stints as an Uber driver, he spends most days at home with his cat (the hilariously named Cat Sajack), binge-watching Wheel of Fortune. Heder plays Evan as a charmingly awkward loser – a lane he knows well and executes with ease.

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Subhah Agarwal is a standout as Maya, Piper’s roommate and best friend, who acts as the film’s moral compass. Agarwal and Lee have great chemistry, and their banter provides some of the movie’s sharpest, and most grounded moments.

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The supporting cast is rounded out by Michael Lombardi as Cameron, a kind of bland investment banker who becomes Piper’s “plan B.” Their relationship, built on Piper’s deception about her pregnancy, unfolds with predictable but amusing results.

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Tamburri’s film shares DNA with 2014’s Obvious Child – an unplanned pregnancy, lots of awkward romantic beats, and an unfiltered protagonist who’s not always easy to root for. Piper’s flaws are front and center, and while she occasionally veers into unlikable territory, Lee’s magnetic performance keeps us invested.

That’s not to say Plan B doesn’t stumble. A flat, would-be triumphant final song and some jarring editing choices threaten to pull viewers out of the story. But if you let those rough edges slide, the film delivers enough big laughs and heartfelt moments to make the ride worthwhile.

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Ultimately, Plan B is a mixed bag. Its sharp humor, bolstered by Lee’s acting and comedic timing, keeps it moving even when other elements feel flat. Heder, though underutilized, adds charm, while Agarwal’s Maya injects heart and wit.

Verdict? Not a perfect plan, but a pretty funny one.