How to Date Billy Walsh is a teen romantic comedy that’s a bit much when a little less would do. It has the trappings of a better movie and, indeed, is sometimes kind of funny and cute but there’s a wacky tone and off-kilter twee comedy that didn’t work for me. Close, but nah.

The flick follows two best pals for life as they attend a British prep school… and how he’s deeply in love with her but can’t say it. Then goddamn Billy Walsh with his just-so tousled hair show up and she falls truly madly deeply in lust with him. What is a closeted Harry Potter lookin’ mofo gonna do to win her back (surely not just tell her he’s in love… don’t be silly).

I like these actors… the two leads are cute together and while he’s a little too Harry Potter all the time, she’s pretty and gung-ho for the comedy. The Billy Walsh dude is even made out to be a pretty nice guy which is a twist in this kind of rom-com. No, they aren’t the problem.

The tone and the janky comedy is the problem. This movie irritated me with its goofy and off-putting poppy visual language and jokes. I kept wanting to like characters more and invest in their silly rom-com shenanigans, but I just couldn’t get past the overkill.

Plus there’s one of the most unconvincing uses of an age-changing app… and how its used in the film is a serious Picard face-palm. One of the dumbest uses of the Rom-Com Big Lie reveal ever. Ugh. Can we stop it now with this trope?

I think if the film’s style and sensibilities are your bag, you’d probably love this flick. Maybe if it’s enough of your brand of humor or camp, you’ll find your latest fav. But for me? Nah. I’ll look forward to these actors in better projects though.

Score: 68