Rank: 2.5/5
If you’re looking for a refreshingly different romantic comedy, “How To Be Single” is not it.
While the predictable flick is comical and has genuine moments, it struggles in its delivery, making the film awkward and overdone at times.
“How To Be Single” is narrated by Dakota Johnson’s character Alice, a recent college graduate who breaks up with her reliably perfect boyfriend of four years to move to Manhattan and “find herself,” a cliche storyline that’s been done countless times.
From the moment Taylor Swift’s “Welcome to New York” played as Johnson arrived in Manhattan, it was obvious this movie would not surpass expectations.
Alice meets Robin, played by a hilarious Rebel Wilson, at her new job as a paralegal. Wilson fills the role of Alice’s unruly best friend and introduces her to the world of New York singledom. As Alice navigates one night stands and new relationships, she learns how to find satisfaction within herself.
Leslie Mann plays Alice’s older sister Meg, a child delivery doctor who decides to have a baby after being dedicated to her career for the entirety of her adult life. Her story is the most endearing of the three, especially with her adorably quirky love interest, Ken(Jake Lacy).
The film was adapted from the book of the same name by “Sex and the City” show writer Liz Tuccillo. This movie has the same feel as the show, but with a younger target demographic.
Alice foolishly thinks she will learn to be alone by having casual sexual encounters. Late into the movie she realizes the whole time she’s been trying to find herself, she’s been spending time losing herself with different men.
Other secondary characters include Lucy, (Alison Brie) an online dating fanatic who is annoyingly irrelevant, as her character has no relation to the other central characters. Her scenes are an embarrassing attempt at humor and take away from the main storyline.
Tom, (Anders Holm) the bartender of the club in which Johnson and Wilson frequent, is given a lot of dialogue and characterized as the forever bachelor. The audience is led to believe that he will change and is relationship ready, but his ending is a huge let down.
Wilson’s brazen comedy was the hit of the movie, but her talents were underutilized. Her storyline acted as a subplot to Johnson’s, and Wilson’s character felt like she was only there to be the stereotypical side-kick. She undergoes no real character development and has no happy ending of her own.
“How To Be Single” contains hilarious and charming scenes which are likeable, but it tried too hard at times. It overcomplicated the plot when all it needed was simplicity. If it honed in on its main characters, gave them real growth and eliminated some of the other unnecessary characters and dialogue, it would have translated much better.
The plot drags, and its attempt at empowerment is well-meaning but fails in lack of direction. It tries to imply a message of independence and identity of self, but doesn’t have the purpose behind to drive it home.
The movie is worth watching for a good laugh and is entertaining, but something to rent rather than see in theaters.