** First things first - this movie has graphic sexual language throughout, plus a gynecological chart that was very illustrative! Don't say I didn't warn you!**
Yes, I bought this movie because it listed Ian Somerhalder, but the movie itself surprised me. Other than being a secondary obstacle in the story, he is not the focus, and is in few scenes. For those who watch for him, he is charming, decent, and a plausible opportunity for Krysten Ritter's character. If you want him in a leading role, two other recent movies are worth a look, "Wake" - a strange rom-com, and "Fireball" - a Syfy movie. Really, I bought them and am watching them again.
Now about "How to Make Love to a Woman". I had not heard of it before, and some of the other reviews were discouraging. But how can I say this. I smiled, I cringed, I laughed, I was offended, and I was, by the end, invested in the happy ending.
I have seen my share of raunchy comedies, most of which were wish-fulfillment fantasies of the boys who made them, and the boys who watched them. I have laughed, but always felt a little ashamed doing so. From the 80's on, the girl was the goal, the object, the prize. But here is a movie where the title presumes the girl as obstacle, and it turns out she is part of the quest, too. Her friends and family are there for her, in frank, funny, and scary ways. The guy truly "evolves" with the advice of his friends, family, strangers, and assorted musician cameos, who are, in turn, helpful, selfish, oblivious, and creepy.
Josh Meyers' character is not a cad. He cares, but is complacent about the relationship until the event that instigates the whole premise of the movie. Ms Ritter's character has reasonable expectations of her boyfriend, and understandably disappointed in his actions. I believe them as a couple.
Where this movie really takes off is in the friends and family that offer their advice. Eugene Byrd as Mr Meyer's friend and Lindsay Richards as a promising client act together to support him, or call him out. While some of the outtakes show some interplay between them, the movie itself presented them as working together for her advancement.
I want to give a special mention to the actors who played Ms Ritter's friends, Catherine Reitman and Nora Kirkpatrick, who are so funny, that I replayed their scenes several times before continuing the movie.
The movie itself has a sense of both place and people. The world of music development, as shown, might be fading, but the people who are in the movie care about the music. And for all the movies and shows that are filmed in Los Angeles, I felt I was seeing places that I don't usually see, which made it feel all the more real.
Mr Meyers is believable as a romantic protagonist, the good guy. I hope to see him him again soon. A villain, a dramatic hero, a doofus, a sidekick. But please, somebody, let us see him win the girl again. He deserves it! And so do I!
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