Prime Video's How to Date Billy Walsh is a rom-com film that relies on the comfort of seeing two people fall in love. The film assumes that its leads have the chemistry to go the distance, but the scripting becomes increasingly empty as the story unfolds. The main selling point is Sebastian Croft's portrayal of Archie, the lovesick best friend, who narrates. The movie does not evolve beyond deeply-rooted cliches, and the film starts with a disheveled Archie lamenting that "all is fair in love and war." As time freezes, Archie addresses the audience, breaking the fourth wall and taking us back to the first day of the last year of school. Archie has been in love with his bestie Amelia since they were young, but fate has other plans. Billy Walsh, an uber hottie, arrives on a motorcycle and immediately catches Millie's eye. If executed better, the meta-leaning feature of Archie's speeches to the audience would make for an easy recommend. However, the film feels like an easy method to toss out unnecessary exposition to tell and not show the storied past between Archie and Amelia. How to Date Billy Walsh is a film that explores the relationship between Millie, Archie, and Amelia, a young woman who is grieving her mother's death. Millie's social status is significantly impacted by Amber, a bully who mocks her every gesture. Millie's grief makes her relatable on a surface level, but the film struggles to understand why Archie cares so deeply about her. The couple's interactions are minimal, and the audience cannot root for their romance. The film's best part is Grouplove's "Tongue Tied" playing over the end credits. If the film were more focused on romance elements and fleshing out the central relationships, it could be a better film. The best part of How to Date Billy Walsh is Grouplove's "Tongue Tied," which adds a touch of complexity to the film. The movie, a mix of Harry Potter and a Nickelodeon movie, suffers from unflattering sex jokes and constant fourth wall breakage. The script is disorderly and the film's overall viewing experience is ruined by characters stuck in their fairy tale universes. Charithra Chandran's performance is enjoyable, but the film's "influencer" angle is not salvaged. The ending is mildly cute, but it's too late to save the movie. The film's overall viewing experience is subpar.
Review of How to Date Billy Walsh
