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Parents' Guide to

Better Off Single

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Tired romcom's sweet message drowned out by clichés, sexism.

Movie NR 2016 85 minutes
Better Off Single Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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There's little in this romantic comedy that hasn't already been said or done in more entertaining movies. In fact, Better Off Single seems more like a series of barely linked comedy sketches about Charlie's romantic mishaps than a coherent story. Tveit is appealing enough, but he's got one main expression -- a combination of stupefaction and shock, like he can't believe what he's just seen and has no idea what to say or do about it. (Or maybe he just can't believe he's in this movie?)

The film tries to make Charlie seem like a catch who's just waiting to find the right woman. But it's hard to imagine that anyone would be able to see the goodness in him when he's so often surrounded by crass, sexist, homophobic bros. Their "advice" and encouragement all seems lifted straight from a pick-up artist's manual. The movie's underlying message is simple and sweet -- love is out there, and finding it is worth the pain and suffering -- but there are many better movies with the same lesson. Better Off Single is better off skipped.

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