Director Christian Ditter
Genre Comedy | Romance
Cast Dakota Johnson, Alison Brie, Leslie Mann, Rebel Wilson
Rating R
Release Date February, 12th 2016
“New York City is full of lonely hearts seeking the right match, and what Alice, Robin, Lucy, Meg, Tom and David all have in common is the need to learn how to be single in a world filled with ever-evolving definitions of love.”
How to Be Single felt like a film that wasn't quite sure if its own identity. On one hand you have the raunchy over the top comedy that is portrayed in the trailer, on the other hand it attempts to touch on real love stories and life lessons. What I found most confusing and almost frustrating is the fact that this apparent identity crisis continued right up until the ending credits. Perhaps the writer was off his meds but someone needs to review the script, I mean come on guys that's amateur hour. The film did include its fair share of funny moments and some solid one liners but overall it was very much hot and cold. Watching Rebel Wilson, a.k.a. Fat Amy, do the walk of shame all over New York City is funny for the most part but eventually grows stale. At least the guys she sleeps with are 4's at best, much more realistic compared to the studs in the Pitch Perfect films.
The acting in How to Be Single is similar to what you would expect from a relatively big budget sitcom without the laugh track. Dakota Johnson is effective when she has the “I'm an inexperienced girl in the big city” look on her face but that runs its course. She's not a dramatic actress nor should she need to be for this film. Rebel Wilson plays her usual character which works.
Anders Holm (Workaholics) plays a bartender/owner who is also a non-committal ladies man. His character is supposed to portray the "player" persona pending reformation but I honestly had a difficult time escaping the Workaholics character I'm used to seeing him play. He is entertaining but any time he attempts to give serious life advice my brain goes on autopilot. Leslie Mann (Knocked Up, This Is 40) is fantastic as usual and I enjoyed watching her character unfold.
How to Be Single is an enjoyable movie overall but unfortunately the low points rear their ugly head far too often not allowing this film to make its mark. Trying to become something more than what the trailer portrayed was a mistake in my opinion and will prove costly in the long term. As the film is trying to say from the beginning, you need an identity to make it in this world, so pick one and stick to it damnit. I was promised a raunchy comedy and as far as I'm concerned it was false advertising, I might need to get in touch with OJ's lawyers. I think I have a real case here.
