For the Lonely Valentine, “How to be Single” Delivers Laughs

Columbia University’s Arts & Culture Beat

For those who were challenged with the dreaded "dateless" Valentine's Day, director Christian Ditters' How to Be Single comes just in time. Based on the novel by Liz Tuccillo, the film stars Dakota Johnson as Alice (50 Shades of Grey), a young college grad who breaks away from her boyfriend of four years, Josh, determined to learn the ways of the single life. In doing so, she comes to a certain understanding of what it means to be single in New York City. After becoming a paralegal at an ideal firm, Alice inadvertently enlists the help of a wild, single-expert and co-worker named Robin, played by comedic actress Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids) with a naturalism that seems effortless. While teaching her the ropes of partying, drinking, and succumbing to the one-night stands which trail closely behind, Wilson delivers laugh-out-loud advice from her character's personal experience--including the idea that sex is simply currency to attract both the opposite and same sex, for the purpose of eliciting free drinks. While this perspective is limited, the practice is hardly taboo to the film's generation of internet savvy young adults. With the gentle swipe of a finger on Tinder or clink of shot glasses in a crowded club, the remedy for a lonely night comes easily.

The comedy lacks sophistication, and each joke mocks the single life in all of its profane and provocative splendor. Just the same, the comedy is so true, for better or worse, that you just have to laugh. Leslie Mann (Knocked Up, The Other Woman) plays both Johnson's older sister and an obstetrician who is initially focused on persuading herself that she prefers to be single without children. The audience is taken for a ride with four central characters, including maniacal-romantic Lucy, played by Allison Brie (Get Hard). All four characters shed light on the different levels of the single life for women living in today’s modern world. There’s the hopeless romantic, the inexperienced young adult, the all too-experienced wild adult, and of course the career woman. While following the story lines of Alice, Meg, Robin and Lucy, many of the clichés of romantic comedies are lightheartedly challenged. Johnson learns the ropes of being single quickly enough, and discovers the male perspective through a self-proclaimed eternal bachelor and bartender named Tom, played by Anders Holm. He too, seems to be an expert in not only how to be single, but how to stay single as well. The exploration of his apartment becomes a school-ground for bachelorette-amateur Alice. The popular bar where Tom tends to also becomes the ranting-home of failed dates’ past for Lucy and just another partying-venue for Robin.

Damon Wayans Jr., the son of veteran comedian Damon Wayans, makes an appearance in what seems to be a budding romance between his character, David, and Alice (Johnson). However, his attempt to take on a relatively serious role of a widowed single-father seems half-hearted throughout the film, and somewhat unbelievable given how we can't help but think of him because of his past roles (New Girl, Dance Flick). Nonetheless, the film strives on humorously. Mann’s character eventually warms up to the idea of having a child and meets a younger and witty counterpart. Lucy’s quest to find her soul mate. becomes much easier when she eliminates the list of ideals that made to ruin every date she has. Robin continues to be the lighthearted star of the film, and the audience soon finds that she knows a thing or two about How to be Rich as opposed to How to be Single. Then, of course, that leaves Alice who endures the tribulations of learning to unzip her own dresses while managing the roller-coaster of being alone without feeling lonely. By the film’s end, she finally understands what it means to be single: finding comfort in learning to do things by oneself and embracing being so far removed from a dependent relationship that one is sure to find the beauty in doing all the things one can only do alone.

This film clearly isn’t the perfect date-night movie, as it makes the singleton benefits alluring enough to discourage the healthiest unions from sticking. But it's fun. The story unwraps in a slow-paced and surprisingly pleasant way, sometimes provoking uproarious laughter. While each story line is developed enough to ensure the film feels complete, there is still room for a sequel. How to be Single may not be the comedy of the year, but it does suffice in helping lift the burden of having a dateless Valentine’s Day for those in search of relief. For those just below the age of thirty, you might find yourself in one of these characters, and for those beyond thirty, you just might find nostalgia in reminiscing about days before you had it all figured out.