Romantic Comedies

[aradia22]

I watched So I Married An Axe Murderer for the first time last night. I enjoyed it though I wouldn't put it on my list of top rom-coms. Since the premise doesn't really kick in until the very end, it's a fairly sweet, light comedy. I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of misogyny. Nancy Travis was quite good but my favorite bit was the relationship between Anthony LaPaglia and Alan Arkin.

I don't hate Mike Myers' comedy but, for me, what holds it back is that (even though he's quite restrained given his other movies) he's still doing too much. I would compare it to The Wedding Singer or Coming to America. There are definitely Sandler-isms in The Wedding Singer, but for the most part, Adam Sandler plays the "straight man" and lets the other characters carry the comedy in a way that lets him just play a normal rom-com performance. Akeem is definitely a character but Eddie Murphy plays him genuinely and gets out his exaggerated comedy energy playing all those background characters. Mike Myers kind of did that in this movie in playing Charlie's dad but he couldn't just leave it to that. Charlie is supposed to be a beat poet but he comes across more like a stand up comedian whose shtick is beat poetry. He can't stop cracking jokes and being desperate for attention in a way that goes beyond Charlie just being a little goofy. 

As for the black widow part...

Spoiler

I suspected Rose as soon as she was introduced and it only became more obvious as the movie abandoned the suggestion that it was Harriet or that it was just Charlie's paranoia

 

[festivus]

I love that movie. I still will use the way he did the beat poetry to tell people things, although no one gets it but my husband and son. My only complaint about the movie is I think There She Goes is used too much. It irritates me. 

[Spartan Girl]

After watching Blended on TV for the upteenth time, I think one of the good points about this movie is that neither Adam nor Drew’s characters were perfect parents. They were doing the best they could, while at the same time…yeah. Drew clearly had a hard time handling her youngest son being so wild. Her oldest son was a MeToo story just waiting to happen.

As for Adam, well, I hate how the joke of the movie was “oh haha he raises his daughters like they were boys.” Don’t get me wrong, he loved his daughters and was trying, and it was nowhere near as bad as Big Daddy (not that’s a high bar), but still. Who the hell names their kid ESPN? Oh right, it’s Sandlerland. 🙄

Edited July 21, 2021 by Spartan Girl

[Ms Blue Jay]

Okay Big Daddy is in my top 10 movies of all time... but sure 😄

I love So I Married an Axe Murderer.  I used to watch that one allllllll the time.  I finally rewatched it recently.

[Spartan Girl]

8 hours ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

 

Okay Big Daddy is in my top 10 movies of all time... but sure 😄

 

Was referring to the character’s parenting skills 😄

[Ms Blue Jay]

6 minutes ago, Spartan Girl said:

Was referring to the character’s parenting skills 😄

Ohhhhhhhhhh 😁

[aradia22]

I decided to watch Mrs. Winterbourne (1996) because some people on here like it. I mostly did too, but it feels kind of sloppy even by rom-com standards. The script just isn't great and I don't think the direction is either so there are times when the actors flounder. It's so locked in to the set up when I would be perfectly happy to just watch Ricki Lake and Brendan Fraser in a normal rom-com. Ricki Lake is not believable as an 18-year-old (at 28) and I don't understand why Bill had to be uptight and snobby at first. It would have been enough for him to not trust her. It becomes awkward later when he just goes back to being Brendan Fraser and Hugh and Bill honestly don't seem that different. Ricki seems a little lost when she's not with Shirley Maclaine or Brendan Fraser. Her acting is weaker in the first half when she's playing off Steve or minor characters. I prefer the second half greatly to the first. The tango scene and the way he keeps coming back to kiss her was very cute and scored high on the romantic scale. I did also like how supportive and accepting he was towards the end and how they didn't bother making it such a big deal that she had a baby or had been lying or any of that. Not every movie needs a ton of angst.

[aradia22]

I watched Only You (1994) tonight. I swear I've seen it before but maybe not the whole thing. It had big 13 Going on 30 energy because I think Faith kind of regresses back to her younger self who was more dreamy and believed in soul mates when she thinks she's found Damon. I think Marisa Tomei is great in this. She really nails the charming lack of cynicism you want in a rom-com heroine. The kind of girl who has faith in romance and true love. I liked Bonnie Hunt but I would have been fine with another actress as her friend/sister in law. My issue with it was all the lying. And because of the conceit, there wasn't much time to develop the main relationship. Billy Zane was great.

I want that red dress and those shoes.

[Scarlett45]

I didn’t know Rachel Leigh Cook was playing the Mom in the new He’s All That. It looks cute. 

[Ms Blue Jay]

13 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

I didn’t know Rachel Leigh Cook was playing the Mom in the new He’s All That. It looks cute. 

Also, the director did "Mean Girls".  I'll certainly give it a chance.

[Shannon L.]

If you're a Ryan Reynolds fan, I would put Free Guy in this category, which surprised me because I didn't know about that aspect going into it (maybe it was out there in one of the trailers, but I don't watch all of the trailers). I thought it was fun and charming and the cast did a great job. 

[krankydoodle]

We Broke Up showed up on Hulu a few days ago and looked promising. It stars Aya Cash and William Jackson Harper, and focuses on a longtime couple that breaks up a few days before her sister's wedding when he proposes and her only response is to vomit. Unfortunately, I only made it halfway through before giving up. I just didn't find it funny and thought it looked kind of cheap. I was also irritated by how obviously alternative romantic prospects were introduced. It was nice to see Larisa Oleynik and Peri Gilpin, though.

But if anyone thinks it gets better in the second half, let me know and I'll give it another shot.

[blugirlami21]

On 8/2/2021 at 10:47 PM, aradia22 said:

I decided to watch Mrs. Winterbourne (1996) because some people on here like it. I mostly did too, but it feels kind of sloppy even by rom-com standards. The script just isn't great and I don't think the direction is either so there are times when the actors flounder. It's so locked in to the set up when I would be perfectly happy to just watch Ricki Lake and Brendan Fraser in a normal rom-com. Ricki Lake is not believable as an 18-year-old (at 28) and I don't understand why Bill had to be uptight and snobby at first. It would have been enough for him to not trust her. It becomes awkward later when he just goes back to being Brendan Fraser and Hugh and Bill honestly don't seem that different. Ricki seems a little lost when she's not with Shirley Maclaine or Brendan Fraser. Her acting is weaker in the first half when she's playing off Steve or minor characters. I prefer the second half greatly to the first. The tango scene and the way he keeps coming back to kiss her was very cute and scored high on the romantic scale. I did also like how supportive and accepting he was towards the end and how they didn't bother making it such a big deal that she had a baby or had been lying or any of that. Not every movie needs a ton of angst.

I was just coming here to say I rewatched this last night and I still love it lol. Your critiques are probably spot on. I def don't love this one because of the acting or anything. It's just a unique story, I mean it has twins, mistaken identity and a murder mystery. Something for everybody ;)

The chemistry between the whole cast especially Brendan and Ricki is why I adore it.

I saw Free Guy as well and it was super cute. I realized that Joe Keery reminds me of a young Brendan Fraser...guys I think I may have a type lol. 

I recently watched Legends Of the Fall and hoo boy those relationships. So toxic even for the times it's set in. Brad Pitt is very pretty tho so that saved it a lot for me.

Edited August 25, 2021 by blugirlami21

[Ms Blue Jay]

On 8/23/2021 at 12:37 PM, Ms Blue Jay said:

Also, the director did "Mean Girls".  I'll certainly give it a chance.

I had to bail on HE'S ALL THAT at the Kourtney Kardashian cameo.

I don't think I want to do this to myself.

I found out that the star of this movie is a TikTok star.  If I had known that I would have never have bothered.

This is one of the biggest sellout-behaviour movies I have ever heard of.  15 minutes was more than enough.

Edited August 28, 2021 by Ms Blue Jay

[twoods]

I was bummed because I loved She’s All That and was intrigued at a remake, but just that awful preview with Kourtney Kardashian and Addison’s terrible acting turned me off. It seems like it’s geared at the Tik Tok crowd. I was looking forward to seeing the actor because I enjoy him in Cobra Kai, but no thanks.

Edited August 28, 2021 by twoods

[Spartan Girl]

She’s All That was the subject of the latest When Romance Met Comedy review, and it brought to light how it subverted the usual character tropes. Zack the popular jock really did take schoolwork seriously while Laney the dorky outsider was actually kind of a burnout (other than art). I never noticed that before! Well played, movie!

[Scarlett45]

He’s All That was pretty cute! It was a great snapshot of what life is like for teens in 2021. Addison (who plays the Padgett) isn’t a sophisticated or experienced actress but she did have a charm to her that was endearing. The leads had chemistry and my Mom (who hates Rom Coms but agreed to watch with me) said “he’s a nice looking boy!”

 

I liked it a lot, it was fun. More ethnic and LGBT diversity than we had in 1999, and Rachel Leigh Cook is so pretty. 

[aradia22]

I feel like a lot of the popular criticisms of the original She's All That are from people who didn't LISTEN to the movie. 'Durr... all she needed was to take off her glasses and get a makeover?' The movie never says she's ugly. The whole point is that she's "scary and inaccessible." She's antisocial. She pushes people away. Not really what you want when you're trying to get everyone to vote for someone as prom queen. 'How did all these kids learn a choreographed dance?' Usher (the DJ) says they practiced it. 

Also, it's already a bit of a weirdo satire. Who would take Matthew Lillard's character seriously? Who would take Laney's performance art friends seriously?

[Ms Blue Jay]

13 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

I liked it a lot, it was fun. More ethnic and LGBT diversity than we had in 1999, and Rachel Leigh Cook is so pretty. 

The stars were all white and straight though.  Every "minority" was relegated to a side character.  It was so obvious.

[Scarlett45]

5 hours ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

The stars were all white and straight though.  Every "minority" was relegated to a side character.  It was so obvious.

I don’t have high expectations with these things- truthfully. Madison Pettis who played Alden is black though (biracial) I liked her in Corey in the House several years ago. And they didn’t erase that, they gave her a black parent (at the birthday party).
 

I was wondering if I should feel a certain type away about that, but I did think the movie was really cute.

 

[Ms Blue Jay]

But like I said, she was a side character.  She was a friend of the star, of course.  I just finished watching the new Hallmark movie that aired last night and the star was Asian.... so I do have higher expectations, especially when you say it was so much more diverse than "She's All That".  I don't think it was all that great for 2021.

Edited August 29, 2021 by Ms Blue Jay

[Scarlett45]

1 minute ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

But like I said, she was a side character.  She was a friend of the star, of course.  I just finished watching the new Hallmark movie that aired last night and the star was Asian.... so I do have higher expectations, especially when you say it was so much more diverse than "She's All That".  I don't think it was all that great for 2021.

I will check out the new Hallmark movie- thanks. They are notoriously bad with that so good to see. 

[Bastet]

It's leaving Netflix today, so I finally watched Love Actually, and I would like those two hours of my life back.  Holy shit.  Most people I know hate it, and my friend who loves it also loves Titanic, so we are clearly not into the same films, so I don't know why I'm surprised I found it to be rubbish, but I really can't believe I just wasted a morning on that film.

Or that the film wasted such a great cast.  The performances were terrific - well, other than Keira Knightley, who I think is terrible in this, but in fairness she is given absolutely nothing to do other than look pretty - but most of the storylines are so utterly ridiculous that I nearly threw things at the TV.  Colin Firth and the Portuguese woman?  The little kid obsessed with love stories running through the airport?  That cretin who lands in Wisconsin and promptly falls into a fivesome with four hot women?  The guy who professes his love to his best friend's new wife?  The prime minister with a staffer 15 years his junior?  Are you kidding me with this shit?  Am I supposed to actually like any of these guys?

The Emma Thompson/Alan Rickman relationship was well done, and I'd have happily watched a film about that because it was realistic.  And I love Laura Linney's character stepping away to freak out in glee that she's finally going to get it on with her long-time crush, and the prime minister grooving to the Pointer Sisters.  But the rest?  Hard pass.

[Browncoat]

My unpopular opinion (and yes, I know this is not the unpopular opinion thread), is that I have an irrational love for Love, Actually.  I despise Titanic, but I love all the cheesy goodness of Love, Actually.  I suspect it is largely due to the cast.  If there were anyone else in any of those roles, I doubt I'd love it as much.

[akiss]

Is loving, Love Actually unpopular? When it was out, I thought everyone loved it, and even Ted Lasso paid homage on it recently. Personally, I love it (except the Winsonsin story. That was rubish.)

[Shannon L.]

2 hours ago, akiss said:

Is loving, Love Actually unpopular? When it was out, I thought everyone loved it, and even Ted Lasso paid homage on it recently. Personally, I love it (except the Winsonsin story. That was rubish.)

Yeah, that's the one that bothered me the most, too. I don't like the movie as much as I used to, but when I first saw it, I loved it.

[Irlandesa]

4 hours ago, akiss said:

Is loving, Love Actually unpopular?

No. But like with any movie, it will have its detractors, especially if it's a movie that has been seen by a lot of people like Love Actually has been. 

Plus, there are stories with problematic angles to them given the nature of how many different stories are told.  One is kind of stalkerish.  Another is a relationship between an employee and employer.  Another is a stretch given that they don't speak the same language.  Then there's the affair story. So if you don't like the movie, there are things to latch onto to criticize.

It's not a favorite of mine that I will watch over and over but I do enjoy the heck out of it.

[JustHereForFood]

I love Alan Rickman, so I like his scenes in the movie. The question about something from the stationery is my favorite, his delivery is amazing. I hate cheating storylines in general, but I still like this story because of him. The story with Liam Neeson is nice too. The rest I don't care much about, the ugly guy getting all the women because of his accent is insulting, the porn actors are boring, the one with Laura Linney is too depressing for a Christmas movie, the one with Keira Knightley and her stalker is creepy and not even Colin Firth could save the language barrier one for me. But somehow I find the finished product a bit better than the sum of individual stories.

[Browncoat]

I like it in part because everything’s not tied up in a neat, happy bow.  Most are, but some are a little sad, and some are a little ambiguous.

The Wisconsin storyline cracks me up because how many times do we hear American women swooning over an English accent?  A lot!  And even though Colin does not have a “cute English accent”, the movie plays it like he does.  Basically, it’s the Brits taking the piss out of the Americans, and I have to laugh.

[Bastet]

20 hours ago, JustHereForFood said:

the porn actors are boring

I think the chemistry between the stand-ins has potential, but their storyline is woefully underdeveloped, and, worse, feels like it's included just for an excuse to show tits. 

[Browncoat]

1 hour ago, Bastet said:

I think the chemistry between the stand-ins has potential, but their storyline is woefully underdeveloped, and, worse, feels like it's included just for an excuse to show tits. 

I agree that that storyline was shortchanged, but I also think it was at least in part because it had to be able to be easily excised to make the movie TV-friendly. 

[Bastet]

Ever since someone posted the new "Honest Trailer" installment (for Clueless), I've been catching up on what they've done since the last time I looked; they cover so few movies I've seen, I don't watch many of the trailers, but those I do watch I always laugh at, whether I love or hate the film.  I was just about to shut the computer down for the night when I thought, "Wait, they have to have done one for Love Actually at some point."  Indeed:

 

[Browncoat]

To be fair, Hugh Grant doesn’t actually fire Natalie. He has her reassigned in an effort not to take advantage of the boss/employee relationship.  She still has a job, just not working directly for him.

[blugirlami21]

I finally watched Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and what a cute movie! Think I will definitely watch it again this week.

I also watched The Starling which I liked quite a bit. I thought the relationship between Jack and Lilly was beautiful in spite of what happened.

[PepSinger]

On 8/31/2021 at 3:58 PM, Bastet said:

It's leaving Netflix today, so I finally watched Love Actually, and I would like those two hours of my life back.  Holy shit.  Most people I know hate it, and my friend who loves it also loves Titanic, so we are clearly not into the same films, so I don't know why I'm surprised I found it to be rubbish, but I really can't believe I just wasted a morning on that film.

You must read this article: https://jezebel.com/i-rewatched-love-actually-and-am-here-to-ruin-it-for-al-1485136388

[Bastet]

3 hours ago, PepSinger said:

You must read this article: https://jezebel.com/i-rewatched-love-actually-and-am-here-to-ruin-it-for-al-1485136388

Oh, bless you.  That hilariously captures the bewildered rage I felt as each storyline got worse and worse, and knowing the filmmaker meant me to be entertained in any way by them, let alone find them romantic, nearly short-circuited my brain in its confusion.

This pretty well sums up the film for me:

Quote

Everything in this movie is fucking insane. That’s not how press conferences work. That’s not how diplomacy works. That’s not how prime ministers work. NOTHING IS HOW ANYTHING WORKS. That’s not how weddings work, that’s not how audio recording works, that’s not how saxophones work, that’s not how hair works, that’s not how business meetings work, that’s not how art works, that’s not how grief works, that’s not how primary school Christmas concerts work, that’s not how airports work, that’s not how music charts work, that’s not how fat works, and none of it is how “love works.”

In fact, this sums it up quite succinctly:

Quote

This is a movie made for women by a man.

I could quote commentary on each storyline, but I'll limit myself and say I particularly love this, about the totally bizarre world this movie creates in which Natalie being, I don't know, a size six, means everyone who knows her engages in constant commentary on her apparently grotesque size:

Quote

She’s also incredibly, disgustingly fat, like a bean bag chair with feet, according to literally everyone else in the movie who apparently all have Natalie Dysmorphic Disorder (the silent killer).

And this, about the creepy airport kid:

Quote

Then they come up with 900 different strategies to “make” Joanna fall in love with him. Weirdly, none of the strategies are “Say hi to her.” Also not considered: “You’re 11. Calm the fuck down.”

And pretty much every word about Colin Firth and the Portuguese woman ("Okay. Seriously. Is this Colin Firth storyline actually about human trafficking?"), especially:

Quote

 

When they get there, Aurelia looks horrified and is like, “What the fuck are you doing at my work!? I don’t even know you, dude! Get out of here! Oh my god, I’M TRYING TO RUN A RESTAURANT HERE. GO AWAY, YOU CREEPY ENGLISHMAN.”

No. Just kidding. She agrees to fucking marry the guy. Forever. Even though they have never spoken.

 

[PepSinger]

On 10/6/2021 at 3:57 PM, Bastet said:

Oh, bless you.  That hilariously captures the bewildered rage I felt as each storyline got worse and worse, and knowing the filmmaker meant me to be entertained in any way by them, let alone find them romantic, nearly short-circuited my brain in its confusion.

You are very welcome. I love sharing this article with people. I had actually never seen the movie, and this article came out the day after I watched it for the first time. I send this article to a friend every Christmas as a tradition. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

I laugh every time I read it.

On 10/6/2021 at 3:57 PM, Bastet said:

I could quote commentary on each storyline, but I'll limit myself and say I particularly love this, about the totally bizarre world this movie creates in which Natalie being, I don't know, a size six, means everyone who knows her engages in constant commentary on her apparently grotesque size

You’d have thought a whale had grown feet and was walking the streets of London with the way they talked about her.

[aradia22]

Christa Allen is also an adult now and I feel old

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CJ9jcpvFyFD/

[Dandesun]

On 8/31/2021 at 12:58 PM, Bastet said:

It's leaving Netflix today, so I finally watched Love Actually, and I would like those two hours of my life back.  Holy shit.  Most people I know hate it, and my friend who loves it also loves Titanic, so we are clearly not into the same films, so I don't know why I'm surprised I found it to be rubbish, but I really can't believe I just wasted a morning on that film.

Or that the film wasted such a great cast.  The performances were terrific - well, other than Keira Knightley, who I think is terrible in this, but in fairness she is given absolutely nothing to do other than look pretty - but most of the storylines are so utterly ridiculous that I nearly threw things at the TV.  Colin Firth and the Portuguese woman?  The little kid obsessed with love stories running through the airport?  That cretin who lands in Wisconsin and promptly falls into a fivesome with four hot women?  The guy who professes his love to his best friend's new wife?  The prime minister with a staffer 15 years his junior?  Are you kidding me with this shit?  Am I supposed to actually like any of these guys?

The Emma Thompson/Alan Rickman relationship was well done, and I'd have happily watched a film about that because it was realistic.  And I love Laura Linney's character stepping away to freak out in glee that she's finally going to get it on with her long-time crush, and the prime minister grooving to the Pointer Sisters.  But the rest?  Hard pass.

My brother in law was shocked SHOCKED I TELL YOU when I said I hated this movie. I watched it with him and my sister one year and then the next Christmas came around and this movie came up and I was like 'um, I'd rather not, no. It's not good.'

SHOCKED!

He was like "I don't understand how you, a person who loves stories, hates this movie!"

I said "The stories are shit!!" It says a LOT that the only relationships I was remotely invested in where Bill Nighy and his manager, and Liam Neeson and his step-son. THAT'S IT! And gods above and below the constant body-shaming is unbelievable.

So... yeah. Look, I have irrational love for problematic movies. I know this. I'm not going to get on anyone's case for loving this movie. But I will fight back when someone suggests I need to love a movie that I do not like at all.

[blugirlami21]

Anyone watch the new Netflix holiday romance with Nina Dobrev, Love Hard?

I thought it was adorable! I thought all the leads had great chemistry and what I liked the most was the smart writing. Just lots of laugh out loud moments throughout. Harry Shun Jr was quite the scene stealer as well. Just a really fun ride.

[festivus]

9 hours ago, blugirlami21 said:

Anyone watch the new Netflix holiday romance with Nina Dobrev, Love Hard?

I thought it was adorable! I thought all the leads had great chemistry and what I liked the most was the smart writing. Just lots of laugh out loud moments throughout. Harry Shun Jr was quite the scene stealer as well. Just a really fun ride.

I'll definitely check that one out, I like both of those actors. It must wait till after Thanksgiving though!

[JustHereForFood]

14 hours ago, blugirlami21 said:

Anyone watch the new Netflix holiday romance with Nina Dobrev, Love Hard?

I thought it was adorable! I thought all the leads had great chemistry and what I liked the most was the smart writing. Just lots of laugh out loud moments throughout. Harry Shun Jr was quite the scene stealer as well. Just a really fun ride.

I watched the trailer and what I got was that she gets catfished by a teenager. I did not get what the point is supposed to be after that.

[Irlandesa]

On 11/9/2021 at 2:06 PM, JustHereForFood said:

I watched the trailer and what I got was that she gets catfished by a teenager. I did not get what the point is supposed to be after that.

He looks like a teenager but he's an adult.  The actor is actually 34 years old. 

[andromeda331]

3 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

He looks like a teenager but he's an adult.  The actor is actually 34 years old. 

Really? I never would have guessed that.

[Guest]

On 11/8/2021 at 9:23 PM, blugirlami21 said:

Anyone watch the new Netflix holiday romance with Nina Dobrev, Love Hard?

I thought it was adorable! I thought all the leads had great chemistry and what I liked the most was the smart writing. Just lots of laugh out loud moments throughout. Harry Shun Jr was quite the scene stealer as well. Just a really fun ride.

I have really mixed feeling about it. In many ways I liked it more for family story than a romance. Josh learning not to undersell himself, the brothers genuine concern, and the conversation between Josh and his dad were all well done.
I didn’t really like that Natalie was primarily a catalyst for Josh’s growth and felt undeveloped as a character. I side eye the movies progressive take on certain things with the way she is treated throughout. 

[Ms Blue Jay]

All Netflix does is remake Cyrano de Bergerac every year.  Sierra Burgess is a Loser, The Half of it, and now Love Hard.  It's so tired.  

I rewatched "Earth Girls are Easy" and I found it pretty cute this go round.

Another cute movie is "Watching the Detectives" starring Lucy Liu and Cillian Murphy.  Very different for a romantic comedy and I really like both of them.

Edited November 11, 2021 by Ms Blue Jay

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

All Netflix does is remake Cyrano de Bergerac every year.  Sierra Burgess is a Loser, The Half of it, and now Love Hard.  It's so tired.  

I don’t see Love Hard as a Cyrano de Bergerac remake at all. The only part that comes close is when Josh is coaching Natalie but he only gives her a few suggestions. She is making her own choices the majority of the time. 

[Ms Blue Jay]

Cyrano "Embarrassed by his large nose, a romantic poet/soldier romances his cousin by proxy."

In Love Hard, Josh is embarrassed by his looks and uses Tag's photo to attract Natalie.

Here's a description from a Cyrano play:

Despite his sizable snoot, Cyrano is a cocky and sharp-tongued wit who often finds himself in trouble with the nobility that he insults. Over the course of several misadventures, Cyrano finds himself helping the handsome but somewhat dim-witted Christian to woo his beloved Roxanne. Cyrano helps Christian by writing love letters signed in his name to Roxanne. Cyrano’s poetic prowess leaves Roxanne smitten with Christian – and completely unaware that these letters actually represent Cyrano’s true feelings for her.

There's very little difference here.  In Love Hard, Cyrano is just using Christian's picture to woo Roxanne.  The rest is the same.  

Edited November 11, 2021 by Ms Blue Jay

[Guest]

5 hours ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

Cyrano "Embarrassed by his large nose, a romantic poet/soldier romances his cousin by proxy."

In Love Hard, Josh is embarrassed by his looks and uses Tag's photo to attract Natalie.

Here's a description from a Cyrano play:

Despite his sizable snoot, Cyrano is a cocky and sharp-tongued wit who often finds himself in trouble with the nobility that he insults. Over the course of several misadventures, Cyrano finds himself helping the handsome but somewhat dim-witted Christian to woo his beloved Roxanne. Cyrano helps Christian by writing love letters signed in his name to Roxanne. Cyrano’s poetic prowess leaves Roxanne smitten with Christian – and completely unaware that these letters actually represent Cyrano’s true feelings for her.

There's very little difference here.  In Love Hard, Cyrano is just using Christian's picture to woo Roxanne.  The rest is the same.  

I am familiar with Cyrano de Bergerac. To me a remake requires the Cyrano and Christian characters to both be actively involved in the deception. That was completely missing here since Tag was not involved in the deception at all. 

It might seem like a minor difference but in my mind it is vital since the two working together makes their motives feel less nefarious than one character just lying about their identity. If Tag wasn’t someone Josh actually knew and just a random person whose photo he used what he did would be exactly the same which keeps it from being a Cyrano plot to me. Tag as a actual person is completely superfluous to that part of the story. Christian can’t be superfluous to a Cyrano plot. This movie actually makes him another victim of the scheme. 

Edited November 11, 2021 by Guest

[JustHereForFood]

Can someone share under spoiler tags whether Nina's character ends up falling for the guy who deceived her? Just so that I know to never, ever bother with checking the movie, even if the only other option is to stare at the wall all evening?