Rom-Com – Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare

“The Cutting Edge”

By Brett_G on February 13, 2023

7.7

Toe pick!

Well, this one gave me some flashbacks… but are they really flashbacks if you still know the person and still bicker like “the old days?” I digress…

This movie is quirky and a bit cheesy, but perfect in its own weird way. It’s a fantastic feel good rom-com with so many one-liners I couldn’t keep track of them all through the laughter. The story isn’t anything to necessarily write home about, but the cast is perfection, and skate the thin ice between good-bad and just bad like professional figure skaters. A Herculean task that they rise to and exceed. So lace up your skates and sit in on a tight hour and a half of fun with this one!

Amazon Prime Rom-Com

“Somebody I Used to Know”

By Brett_G on February 12, 2023February 12, 2023

7.1

Gotta be careful of those hometown bar run-ins… all sorts of trouble.

I was of course all-in, as I am with any project that includes Alison Brie. For obvious reasons. 😍

The film itself was pretty par for a course. A cute love story, some hilarious hijinks. Golf course streaking. A surprise “Community” cast reunion between Abed and Annie. Everything you could want from a rom-com most couples probably won’t finish this February holiday season. Ending on “Semi Charmed Life” was a great touch, director… Dave Franco?!? Wow. Did not see that coming.

Here’s to hoping your Valentine’s Day isn’t as awkward as this movie. ❤️

Comedy Rom-Com Romance

“Hitch”

By Brett_G on January 11, 2023

7.7

Kevin James must always Kevin James. Like Will Ferrell being shirtless, Kevin James must dance like a buffoon. And Will Smith must riff some lines. I don’t make the rules.

All that said, Eva Mendez and Amber Valletta? These guys seriously out-kick their coverage here.

Some extremely valuable lessons here about human connection and the value of balancing being honest and bettering oneself in the name finding true love. And jet skis. Beware of jet skis. I’ve been there. It’s a hard date to master, especially when you fall off and have to be rescued. Just saying…

A rom-com staple with an absolutely fire soundtrack!

Comedy Rom-Com Romance

“The Ugly Truth”

By Brett_G on January 10, 2023

7.5

The classic “straight laced character learns from the goofball character and they end up proving the opposites attract theory” rom-com. A tale as old as time. A film so old it’s before Gerard Butler decided to drop the American accent. Also, a strong entry into the Katherine Heigl renaissance.

These two play these parts perfectly, and as I’ve said here before, mail the most important part of the rom-com formula: the heart. Without anchoring itself to true human romantic connection, the comedy falls flat. The laughs are only as strong as the “awe” factor at the other end of the spectrum, and this film has both for days. There’s also a lesson in there about opposites attracting, game theory, and the player just being a broken nice guy protecting his heart… but I digress.

Amazon Prime Rom-Com

“Something From Tiffany’s”

By Brett_G on December 27, 2022

7.2

Not too much, not too little. Just right.

In the spirit of “no good deed goes unpunished,” this poor guy saves an asshat’s life, only to have said action cause a ripple effect resulting in his proposal being thwarted. Only to then be wooed by the baking prowess of Zoey Deutch. (Is there anything she can’t do?) She dumps the zero, and gets with the hero in the end. Both learn that someone you met yesterday can be better for you than someone you’ve known for years. Well done, Amazon! Netflix better look out, they’re gunning for the rom-com kingdom.