Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 2 ratings
New York City is full of lonely hearts seeking the right match, and what Alice, Robin, Lucy, Meg, Tom and David all have in common is the need to learn how to be single in a world filled with ever-evolving definitions of love.
How to Be Single is a fairly standard romantic comedy ensemble piece set in NYC. The plot follows predictable rom-com beats with multiple storylines that feel familiar and somewhat scattered. The acting is serviceable with Rebel Wilson providing energetic comic relief and Dakota Johnson anchoring the film reasonably well. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable, typical of the genre. Novelty is low as the film largely recycles well-worn single-life-in-the-city tropes without a distinctive voice. The ending offers a slightly more honest, introspective resolution than typical rom-coms, giving the film a modest boost in that category.