Aneesa Wardle
The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
Sabah Hensley
This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama
Yash Wade
Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.
Ortiz
Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
JLRMovieReviews
Eric Mabius liked Brooke D'Orsay in high school but she never knew how much. Present day: He has no girl and no style. Feeling insecure, he's now shy and has nobody to love. A friend of his tells him about a dating coach, but that experience was terrible. He meets Brooke, when she's waitressing, but who's really an event planner and without a job currently. Long story short, you know what happens. She helps him with his approach to women and insecurity, all the while she's.... This may be predictable fluff, but it's so sweet, special, and real, that it spoke to me and I really, really enjoyed it. Katky Najimy gives great support as another waitress and friend to Brooke. And, the rivalries and feelings between Brooke and sister were handled very well. This is the kind of film you watch sick in bed, a feelgood movie for all romantics, or just anyone who likes sweet films.
conleytgwinn
An enthusiastic 8! I AM that nerd, and I recognized each step of my own growth in the lessons of Brooke for Eric. When I finally met my eventual wife, the script covers why and how we fell in love. No lessons though on the four kids, the 45 years, and other significances that follow. Perhaps Hallmark has more to teach me? Brooke is not as beautiful as many Hallmark female leads, and the nerdish character of Eric is initially off-putting, so I dialed back my expectations after meeting the leads. However, the script drew me back as I saw my own awakening replayed and the growth of the characters to parallel my own self-awareness. I recommend this movie,and guys - even if no one elbows your ribs, you could do worse than to pay attention. Do not just tell everyone what you learned - SHOW them!
HallmarkMovieBuff
Why is the teenage dork always named "Harold" (who grows up to be an accountant)? Talk about Hollywood stereotypes! "Ugly Betty's" Eric Mabius, playing a grown-up Harold White, finds that Annie Hayes, his homecoming dance date when they were freshmen in high school, has returned to town, and is unable to find employment in her chosen profession as party planner. Annie is played by Brooke D'Orsay, of "Royal Pains" and "Drop Dead Diva" fame.At the prodding of a buddy, Harold tries to hire a dating coach, but it doesn't work out. Instead, he hires Annie to become his coach (it helps to supplement her waitress income), and she does such a good job that at one point, the student winds up teaching the teacher.The ending of this movie is preordained from the outset, but it gives the viewer a nice ride along the way. It also works as a decent how-to dating guide for nerds everywhere.A slimmed-down Kathy Najimy plays Brooke's co-worker; and prospective first date, Gina Holden, never looked better.
edwagreen
He was a social retardant from his high school years. 20 years later, he's an accountant and photographer, but his social life is still going nowhere. Why? The guy lacks confidence.He meets a girl he went out with in his freshman high school year and she takes on the task of teaching him how to be himself. Of course, the plot itself is how these two people come to fall in love.Kathy Najimy is given little to do here as a waitress working in the same restaurant as our heroine.This is another Hallmark story of people finding out about themselves. It is basically a story of confidence and asserting oneself, handled very well.