Category: Rom-Com

“Long Weekend”

7.2

Can we please stop making time travel movies? Please. It’s becoming too much of a good thing.

This movie in particular didn’t even really need it. The chemistry was wonderfully done, the story was sharp and had a nice depth to it. I just… the time travel crap took me out of it until the third act twist brought me back in and rescued this from sinking into the 6’s. The ending was amazing and tied up the loose ends, contextualizing everything that had been driving me insane for the first 2/3 of the movie. The beginning feels a bit like a dream, as you’re dropped into an already moving narrative, which you then go “awe,” then “what is going on,” then “no freaking way! That’s what was going on!” then back to “awe.” Seemed like a Netflix flick on the big screen. A throwback to the olden days of having to see this genre in a theater. (One of those buildings with the big screens and popcorn)

“Bad Cupid”

6.9

Better than “Bad Santa.” Infinitely more endearing. The story is clunky as hell, and it really doesn’t get moving or come together in any meaningful way until the final 20 minutes, but it had a bit of a message in there somewhere—deep, deep within the narrative onion.

“Some Kind of Wonderful”

7.5

Good to see Eric Stoltz finally got to be a leading man after Michael J. Fox stole “Back to the Future” from him.

Technically speaking, Jim and Michelle did this same love story better in “American Pie 2.” That said, it’s still a solid cheesy 80’s movie. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between Keith and Duncan the tough guy who he befriends in detention. Their relationship as brothers in arms on the battlefield of love was my favorite part of this movie. There weren’t a lot of scenes together, but they had a cool dynamic taking on the cool kids together.

“One of the Guys”

7.7

Sleeper hit from the 80’s. Solid JV squad film.

Brother is a total creep, good lord. Just a walking red flag. Teri tries out life as a guy after getting shot down as a girl for her dream job. Learns things aren’t always as they seem, falls in love. The usual.

Billy Zabka plays the bad guy with perfect hair. Pure 80’s.

“The Right One”

6.3

I get the feeling they had a hard time picking the right script, so decided to combine 6 or 7. A plot as scatterbrained as its mysterious central character, this one has its moments but ultimately fell flat for me. Many other far superior options in the romance novel put to film category so far this year.