First, is it too long post-comment to take umbrage with Chachi’s insinuation that I should see this film merely because I subject Kelly to artsy films all the time? I’ve probably seen more romantic comedies than any heterosexual man should. In fact, artsy vs. romcom, I’d probably come out on top.
Regardless, the moment we’ve all been waiting for (for whatever reason)… my take on Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!.
Topher Grace is the (only?) reason to see this film. The comedic timing he shows in Win a Date reminds me of why I thought so highly of his In Good Company performance; the false bravado, the awesome dorkishness, the desperation to belong. Topher plays the comedy right.
It’s the romance that doesn’t work. And because of that, I don’t feel like he’s been able to successfully transfer that comedic gift into leading man status yet. And why I don’t think he and Kate Bosworth belonged together here. Their relationship comes across as friendship. She never once thinks of him as more than that until the screenplay decides she must.
Meanwhile, he’s smitten, but doesn’t really show any reason why she should be with him. He’s better off in In Good Company when his loneliness and emptiness can work against his outer comedic posterior. And whereas there, Topher’s character was willing to risk embarrassment for a chance with Scarlett Johannson, here he comes across as too reserved, too shy for his own good. When the bartender asks him late in the film what he’s tried and he can’t come up with a good answer… that’s the problem. Then he has to rush out and break up what has looked like a good thing for both Bosworth and Duhamel’s characters.
The storyline is predictable straight down to the last scene, so large portions of the film rely on its actors to carry them and make them seem fresh. Kate Bosworth and Josh Duhamel are fine in their roles respectively, but neither one gives a performance you can get really invested in. What the film ultimately amounts to is a bunch of pretty-faced people having a good time making a concept movie. What would you do if your movie star crush started reciprocating those feelings?
But maybe that’s why I ultimately thought it deserved a minor recommendation? There are a couple of laughs in it, some pleasing performances and it never aims to be anything more than what it is. So in that regard, it reminds me a lot of the likewise worthwhile The Girl Next Door… entertaining concept, low expectations, solid performances, a few laughs and no real watching regrets.
No comments:
Post a Comment