Review of How to Be Single (2016) by Patrick L — 17 Aug 2016

"A shallow and raunchy chick-flick that doesn't have anything smart to say about relationships, love or being single.".

DVD Movie Review: How to Be Single.

Date Viewed: May 31 2016.

Directed By Christian Ditter.

Screenplay By Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein and Dana Fox, Story By Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein, Based on the novel by Liz Tuccillo.

Starring: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann, Alison Brie, Nicholas Braun, Jason Mantzoukas, Damon Wayans, Jr., Jake Lacy, Anders Holm, Colin Jost, Sarah Ramos and Brent Morin.

"How to Be Single" is a shallow and raunchy chick-flick that doesn't have anything smart to say about relationships, love or being single. Dakota Johnson has a perfect comedic vehicle in her, she's charming and funny but she and Rebel Wilson are stuck with a terrible date known as this movie. Being single is hard, believe me I still don't have a girlfriend in my life but going to the movies always brings joy into my heart so I can't be really depressed.

Johnson stars as Alice, a 20-something woman who needs a break from her long-time boyfriend, Josh (Nicholas Braun) so she can focus on her career. She moves to New York City and decides to become a paralegal but she doesn't have money for an apartment so Alice moves in with her older sister, Meg (Leslie Mann) who doesn't want to have a baby or be on the dating market.

Alice also befriends her wild British co-worker, Robin (Wilson) who enjoys partying, drinking alcohol and having one-night stands even if it's with a man she doesn't know. Alice begins to embrace her single life as she starts dating with various men including a local bartender named Tom (Anders Holm) and a single dad named David (Damon Wayans, Jr.).

The one storyline that doesn't intertwine with our main characters involves Lucy (Alison Brie), another single woman who has had a string dates but she's always had trouble in finding "The One". "How to Be Single" is based on the 2008 novel from Liz Tuccillo and two of the screenwriters involved have a history with bad chick-flicks, Marc Silverstein (He's Just Not That Into You, The Vow and Valentine's Day) and Dana Fox (Couples Retreat and What Happens in Vegas).

It does have a few funny lines and a fine supporting performance from Damon Wayans, Jr. but the drama in "How to Be Single" is contrived and messy. As feminist movies go, the formulaic "How to Be Single" is Reese's Pieces compared to "Bridesmaids".