Parents' Guide to Isn't It Romantic

Wilson is an absolute hoot in a starring role that makes the most of her quirky talents -- but make no mistake, this takeoff on clichéd romcoms is anything but frivolous and forgettable. Instead, its sharp gags pack a punch, making points about both femininity and oft-reviled "chick flicks" that will resonate with viewers, particularly if they've sat through more than one movie about a beautiful woman who isn't quite whole until the true-love kiss at the end of her story. Nat ticks off the genre's old chestnuts in an early scene: Romantic comedy women wake up in full hair and makeup. They're always tripping over things, which those around them find charming, even though in real life "they'd think she has muscular dystrophy." And most of all, these imperfect cinematic manic pixies need men to complete them.

So when her head injury dumps Nat into a romcom world, she's at first surprised to see her dirty NYC block filled with flower beds and cupcake shops. Her dismissive neighbor has been transformed into a queeny best friend who waits around in Nat's apartment for the moment she needs a cocktail-gossip session or a makeover. And men everywhere flock to her, particularly the hot but jerky Blake, a client who didn't even notice Nat before. Romcoms also end with the main character falling in love -- so surely if Nat can get Blake to declare his love for her, that will bring this bizarre chapter of her life to an end. But, as she soon discovers, Blake's shallow affection is worth far less than Nat's true feelings for herself. She doesn't need a man to round off her life -- she's complete, and wonderful, all on her own. That realization is what will leave her ready to take on the world confidently and on her own terms, including a romantic relationship with a man who's already proved himself her equal.