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Reviews
She's Funny That Way (2014)
Great until the last 15 minutes
"She's Funny That Way" is the story (or several stories intertwined) about the romantic lives of people involved in a Broadway play as recounted by the main character-turned actress Isabelle/Glow. This movie somewhat defies genres as it is both a romance as well as a comedy, yet it is not a romcom. It is quirky and offbeat, but never rises to the level of ironic.
The characters in the film present a mostly enjoyable set, although it requires a healthy suspension of disbelief to follow the plot at all. The performances suit this type of movie, it's not too serious and the film goes best when you can keep that sort-of mindset when watching it.
It was quite a nice, lighthearted and fun movie - however, the final 15-20 minutes including the ending)) was so ridiculous, that it completely ruined the entire movie for me, dropping an enjoyable 7/10 to a mere 4 stars. I will not spoil this ending, but it is so bad, it deserves to be spoiled.
A quick, fun and whimsical movie, if you can suspend your disbelief - which the final 20 minutes gives you no help in doing.
The Rebound (2009)
the "fantasy-romance" that fails to charm
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Justin Barth star in this hopelessly unromantic and unfunny "romantic comedy". "The Rebound" follows Zeta-Jones' character following her divorce and moving to the big city where she starts a romance with the barista there. Unfortunately, there was nothing special to catch the viewer in this "drama" marketed as a romcom.
The plot is dry and unbelievable. The characters are unlikeable with little chemistry, which says a lot, as both co-stars are talented actors. While there is a logical progression to the story, it's not interesting enough to last 30 minutes, let alone the length of the movie. An obvious movie comparison would be "Prime" which was superior in almost every way.
There are 2 audiences I could plausibly l recommend this movie to: older divorced women who want a "girl boss" power fantasy or younger men who dream of raising children. For these 2 audiences, and them alone, this movie may be worth a watch. For everyone else, there is "Prime" or any number of other movies with actual romance or comedy or even both that are available.
Stay the Night (2022)
Simple yet exhausting
This movie is about an autistic woman, who struggles to connect with other human beings. Follow her over the course of one night as she meets a down-and-out hockey player and navigates her own romantic life.
This movie has that simple premise and is almost entirely carried by the strength of its main characters Grace and Carter. Andrea Bang (from Kim's Convenience fame) and Joe Scarpallino give excellent performances and it's important, as this movie focuses entirely on their interactions/relationship. The acting was the standout piece and their on-screen chemistry and the solid, believable delivery are rarely seen in movies these days.
Unfortunately, for these 2 actors, the plot does them no favors. In fact, there is no plot, other than Grace sabotaging herself and her romantic life for about an hour and a half. It's a shame, because the acting is enough to keep you engaged in the movie... until you ask why you are even watching in the first place. There was nothing interesting or exciting in the story and it's easy to lose interest.
If you are looking for a character-driven drama or are the sort of person who needs good characters in a movie, this film is for you. If you need anything more, it's hard to find it in "Stay the Night" and you may find yourself bored by the half-hour mark.