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Surprise Me!
By Renee Longstreet,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Generic romcom fails to surprise; some language, sex.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Surprise Me!
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What's the Story?
SURPRISE ME! is the name of an event-planning company that promises delightful surprises. Genie Burns (Fiona Gubelmann), who owns it with business partner Steven (LeShawn Banks), delivers the goods. Her sparkling personality and imagination along with his operating skills have made it a great success. Genie's romantic life, however, is a bust. It seems that dealing with the long-ago early death of her father and mixed feelings about her mom have made her vulnerable and overly cautious. Genie tries to be content with her BFFs Lori (Robyn Coffin) and Danny (Jonathan Bennett), but she's definitely missing something. When our heroine meets Jeff Bachmann (Sean Faris), a cosmetic surgeon, she's wary at first, but he's persistent, charming, and ultimately wins her over. Unfortunately, Genie's old insecurities emerge, and when they come up against Jeff's rather carefree notions about relationships, things get shaky for the couple. Torn between wanting the new romance to blossom and trying to hold onto her own identity, Genie must face the feelings she tried so hard to keep at bay.
Is It Any Good?
It's hard to fully engage with a film, especially a romantic comedy, when moments in the key relationship either fall flat or happen off-camera; unfortunately, this movie is guilty of both. It doesn't help matters that Surprise Me!'s major twist won't be a surprise for most savvy romcom viewers. Performances are mostly fine -- Nicole Sullivan as a mind-bending therapist is particularly delightful. The actual surprise events the company comes up with are inventive and fun. But while it's light, semi-entertaining, and nice to look at, the on-the-nose characters, routine relationship-building montage, and the fact that scenes like the crucial breakup didn't make the cut, make it less successful than it might have been.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the heavy issues Surprise Me! deals with humorously. One issue is binging. In portraying this eating disorder with a light hand, do you think the filmmakers were taking it seriously enough? Or is there something to be gained from simply making audiences aware of the problem? Was the therapist believable even though she was funny? Explain your answers.
In successful romantic comedies, audiences understand why the two people involved fall in love. Think about the scenes that showed Genie's and Jeff's relationship building. Was it clear what each saw in the other? Why does that matter?
In romcom terms, what is a "meet cute?" Challenge yourself. Create a "meet cute" for two people (fictional or real) you think might be right for one another.
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: October 4, 2019
- Cast: Fiona Gubelmann , Jonathan Bennett , Sean Faris
- Director: Nancy Goodman
- Inclusion Information: Gay actors
- Studio: Indie Rights
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 103 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: September 13, 2023
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