MOVIE REVIEW
“How to Be Single”
Grade: B
Starring Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson and Alison Brie. Directed by Christian Ditter.
Rated R for sexual content, strong language. Check listings for theaters. 1 hour, 50 minutes.
Bottom line: A surprisingly smart and funny film
“How To Be Single” is an example of the dangerous pitfalls of judging a movie based only on the cast list, movie poster and early trailers. Going strictly by those elements, “How To Be Single” looks a chick flick that relies heavily on bawdy material to generate laughs.
“How To Be Single” actually is a smart, fun and sweet movie.
Despite an all-female starring cast, it delivers its comments about relationships in such a full and inclusive manner that males will be pulled into the intertwined stories.
It starts with Alice (Dakota Johnson), a law firm employee who is coming out of a failed relationship. Her best friend, Robin (Rebel Wilson), decides to help her navigate the choppy waters of dating. The efforts don’t always work as Robin speeds through life.
Alice is also dealing with her single sister, Meg (Leslie Mann), whose relationship with a younger man leads to a pregnancy.
The last piece of the puzzle is Lucy (Alison Brie), a woman using logic, statistics and strategy to find the right mate. This intellectual approach keeps her from seeing the people around her who may really care for her.
Credit director Christian Ditter and writers Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein and Dana Fox with keeping this film at such a high level. There are plenty of humorous moments, but instead of just relying on the lowest common factors, each joke is a smart commentary on life and love.
The biggest shock is Wilson. Generally, her performance is so manic that she quickly becomes a distraction rather than a comic asset. Ditter mixes her in at just the right moment to slam dunk a joke and then move on. There’s no feeling that she’s trying to milk the life out of a funny twist.
Movies that tend to focus on one sex often treat those from the other sex as little more than props. “How To Be Single” is an equal opportunity film where the male characters are presented with depth. The best example is the single father played by Damon Wayans Jr. His character is dealing with a lot of emotional baggage when it comes to his daughter and that adds another level to the story.
The weakest link is Brie. Her character always seems to be on the fringes. She’s part of the group, but her work is so far removed that her story never fully blends with the others. It’s a weakness, but it’s not enough to take away from what is a very solid story of love and loss played against a New York City backdrop that is so beautifully shot it looks like a fantasy land.
“How To Be Single” is a wonderful surprise. It takes a high road in both comedy and story that makes it work on multiple levels. More comedies that focus on one gender should pay attention to this movie. The cast and crew deliver from start to finish.
About the Author
