ViewGuide

Created Feb 18, 2016 11:08PM PST • Edited Feb 18, 2016 11:08PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   Young women are the target demographic of How to Be Single. I’m neither, so found this melodramatic romcom more tedious than funny. But frequent female laughs indicate it works with its intended audience.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson & Alison Brie are clearly intended to represent real women rather than idealized hotties, just as Seth Rogan and Jonah Hill do in male-oriented comedies. The problem is that a little Rebel Wilson goes a long way, yet she’s the only one delivering LOLs, which are precious few.

   The so-so supporting cast includes Leslie Mann, Nicholas Braun, Jason Mantzoukas, Damon Wayans, Jr., Colin Jost, Jake Lacy and Anders Holm.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    OK 2.5

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Barely OK 2.0

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.7

    Much sex discussed. No sex seen, notwithstanding the R-rating.

17. Sex Titillating 1.7

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Salty 2.4

21. Reality

    Glib 1.4

    This apolitical movie may be largely farcical, but it provides a lens into young women today. That view suggests Hillary Clinton’s status as a woman running for President will carry little weight with today’s post-emancipated women, who have no emotional connection to the type of feminism she represents.

    Maureen Dowd’s recent piece When Hillary Clinton Killed Feminism reinforces this view.

    What the three older women (Clinton, Albright & Steinem) seemed to miss was that the young women supporting Sanders are living the feminist dream, where gender no longer restricts and defines your choices, where girls grow up knowing they can be anything they want. The aspirations of ’70s feminism are now baked into the culture.

    That culture – farcically interpreted – is on display in How To Be Single.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.9

23. Biological Glib 1.4

24. Physical Natural 1.0