‘How To Be Single’ Movie Review

Chick Flicks have taught me a lot in life, often at different times. 

When I was fifteen, it was that I should always trust Colin Firth, in whatever movie he was in. (Actually, that one still rings true today.) 

When I turned eighteen, it was that you didn’t have to be the pretty girl to get the guy, he would love you no matter what you looked like. It would just take him about ninety minutes and perhaps a make over to realise it. 

But now that I’m approaching my mid twenties and learning not to rely so much on what I see on the big screen (it’s a long and slow realisation, unfortunately) I need to work out what my life should be like for me, not for anyone else. 

And apparently I’m not the only one. Cue ‘How To Be Single’, the latest ‘chick flick’ to be placed on the market. I use ‘chick flick’ reluctantly because it really is a mixture of both genders. We see the guys falling for the girls, sighing wistfully after them in a fashion that 1950’s heroines would be proud, and we watch as the women of the film learn independence and frivolity, and that being sexual is nothing to be ashamed about. 

Starring Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie and Leslie Mann, this film shows four women with very different outlooks on what it means to be single and how to go about it. It ranges from the desperate single girl looking for the soulmate to the wild child waking up in a different apartment every day. And then you’ve got the ones in between, which are more relatable to the general female population. The girl ‘trying to find herself’ yet constantly losing who she is whenever a man is in the picture, and the more mature lady who worries her career took precedence over everything else and life may just pass her by. 

Whether we like it or not, we’ve been at least one of these people at one point or another in our lives. And what this film does best is embrace them, show their flaws as well as their perks. 

The film, like most, follows a girl’s journey during some romantic changes in her life. And, like most films, we have the comedy relief guide with one liners and hilarious antics that give the film its feel- good outlook. You come out of the theatre feeling happy and optimistic, which I believe is what those big Hollywood types were aiming for. 

‘If you’re not having fun being single, you’re not doing it right,’ one of the lines that burned into my mind near the beginning of the film. It’s a very good point. If you are unhappy with your current Facebook relationship status or whatever it is we use to define what we’re up to sexually, all you have to do is go out and change it. It’s easier said than done, and as a perpetual singleton, trust me, I know. 

Sure, there was an unrealistic element to the film, like a job on Wall Street right out of college or the amazing apartment Johnson’s character just stumbles upon in a matter of days (not that I’m bitter or anything) but that’s what chick flicks do- they make you want to improve your life to an unrealistic level. That’s what makes them so damn popular. And I’m willing to overlook that due to the message this film brings across. I’m not going to be a cliché and tell you what that awe inspiring message is, because I don’t know if it’s the same for you as it is for me. 

But it’s a feel good movie with relatable characters, a great back drop of New York City, funny one liners and a decent, if repetitive at some points, plot line. I saw it with my best friend and I’m glad I did. It’s a great movie to watch with your buddies or even your other half (as long as neither of you takes the title too seriously and believes you’re watching a documentary or DIY video) after a long week at work. A definite recommendation. 

7/10 

‘In Your Eyes’ Movie Review

A film that has been in the making for over two decades, written by the wonderful Joss Whedon who is really the gift that just keeps on giving in the realms of supernatural, paranormal and romance, this film was an unexpectedly glorious discovery made by myself a few nights ago. 
I recently made the decision/ social mistake of getting myself Netflix, and whilst trawling through the many films I either had already seen or had no interest in ever watching, this little beauty fell into my lap. 
First premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, Whedon then made it available online rather than taking on theatrical distribution. The only explanation as to why I hadn’t heard of it until now. 
It’s a love story, plain and simple, only the twist is…the protagonists have never met. It is a story of two minds falling in love, not bodies. Dylan and Rebecca live on opposite sides of the country, and yet somehow, inexplicably, their minds are linked- they are able to see what each other can see, feel what each other can feel, and when they talk aloud, they can hear each other as well. 

I know, a little wacky- but considering the mind it came from, it’s a very sweet idea. The two could not be more different if they tried- she a upper class, unsatisfied housewife only married for the safety and comfort her wealthy doctor husband can provide, he a convict recently out of prison trying to turn his life around. It’s cliche and yet fresh. Whedon has done it again, the tragic love story you have to root for (Buffy and Angel anyone?) and want to be triumphant. 
Yes, the film lacks the superheroes, magical weapons and action sequences we are used to from Whedon’s work, but the themes are still there- we see a strong woman break from the safety of her life to pursue what will really make her happy, we have the misogynistic husband who controls his wife and talks down to her, more concerned with his career than her. Good triumphs over evil and the bad guy is vanquished. 
The score, composed by Tony Morales, left me with goosebumps throughout. It’s a soft, melodic sound that makes you fall in love, just like the characters and the storyline. It’s a perfect fit. 
The location is beautiful, a wonderful contrast between the cold New Hampshire and the mountain state of New Mexico. It represents the characters’ perfectly, their situation and their personalities alike. The theme runs right through to the end, when the characters both choose to leave their respected settings and travel to a new destination, showing their growth and change as people. 
The two leads, Zoe Kazan and Michael Stahl-David, really get to show off their ability in this film. It’s about falling in love all on your own. They had to dominate the screen visually whilst sharing it- a hard feat I can only imagine. Talking to themselves, whilst really having a conversation with each other occurs predominantly throughout the film, yet you really find yourself believing they are there, in each others heads. They are both a joy to watch and very believable together, both well rounded and damaged characters with flaws and virtues alike. They are well suited, both on and off screen. 
My only concern is one of minuscule size- they don’t address why they are psychically linked. We, as an audience, are expected to just accept it as fact and focus on the love story- which most of me is fine with. In other love films we aren’t expected to question why both leads are in the bar at the same time, or any other serendipitous meet cute that might be the reason the couple first meet- why should this one be any different? Perhaps its just me, always wanting to know more. 
But it’s sweet, plain and simple. Something you can curl up in front of the television on a cold night and watch, and restores just a little faith in the world. A definite recommendation to anyone who loves romance, Whedon and a little paranormal. 
8/10