Rebel Wilson is not the lead star in How to be Single. But, she should be. The film stars Dakota Johnson as Alice, a woman who graduates college and as she readies to head out into the “real world,” she breaks up with her longtime boyfriend. Alice believes they need a break and should spend some time alone before they even think about a long term life together.
After graduation, reality hits her square in the face. Being single is not so glamourous. In fact, it can be kind of tough (and lonely). But, luckily for her she meets Robin (Rebel Wilson) at her job. She is a wild and crazy singleton who is loving the solo life in New York City and proceeds to give her new friend a crash course in How to Be Single.
Meanwhile, there are a few other stories in this He’s Just Not That Into You-type ensemble film — Leslie Mann’s Meg and Alison Brie’s Lucy. Meg is Alice’s sister, who has made no time for love with her career as a doctor flourishing and leaving her no room for romance. Lucy has serious smarts and believes that she can create an algorithm for dating sites that will help her with her highly restrictive needs for what she looks for in a life partner. Oh, and Lucy, is slightly obsessed with getting married. Yup, she reads wedding magazines for kicks.
If any of this sounds cliché and stereotypical, it is because it largely fits that profile. Yet, there are elements of How to Be Single that are unique. There are storylines that audiences may think they can predict the results and they will instead discover a welcomed surprise. Other storylines that seem like they’ll wrap up in a tidy bow, sadly do not. We have to give the story-creating collective that worked behind the scenes of the film some credit. Yet, it is puzzling because there are elements of these characters that completely detract us from being able to enjoy the not-so-stereotypical ride.
If this is anyone’s “movie,” it is Johnson’s. The comedic sparks she showed on Fox’s Ben and Kate are all over this film and she illustrates that a career as a rom-com headliner or physical comedy comedienne is possible for the Fifty Shades of Grey star. But, Wilson steals every scene she is in — just like she did in the Pitch Perfect movies. Unfortunately, there is not enough of her and what director Christian Ditter did put in the film, doesn’t show her full range. Much of what Wilson gave Ditter with improv would have made her character much more deep than what we get. Instead, she comes off as a party girl with no conscious and hardly any soul. Sadly, we think Wilson could have done much more.
In fact, it’s time for the Australian scene-stealer of the last couple of years to get her own film.
Mann, as usual, is fantastic. She and Jake Lacy have the most unique of romantic storylines that is the highlight of the heartfelt angles for this rom-com. Mann too is someone who seems to be the best part of any film she’s in and let’s hope she keeps getting the chance to shine in story arc’s even larger than the one she has in How to Be Single.
What sets How to Be Single apart from past Valentine’s Day weekend movie releases is it appears to be the rare film that is aimed squarely at single women. So many rom-coms are targeted at women who have a love in their life and are seeking out a romantic-comedy for Valentine’s Day that will be at the center of their salute of love. This film is the opposite. It is a celebration of being single. Therefore, we can recommend it for those of you looking for fun with friends while the rest of the world is off gazing into someone else’s eyes. They don’t need another Valentine’s Day movie!
Grade: B-