This picture had some sweet moments. I'm actually o.k. with the lead looking so young and sounding even younger, because in real life he is the age that he was playing. That made things more interesting.
Even short, skinny, passive guys can find girlfriends. Especially if the guy is a gentleman. If the actor had been more "normal," this movie would have been more common.
The fiancée was also well cast. Not a beauty. Just a generic spoiled East Coast girl. Of course a controlling girl is going to choose a puppy dog guy.
While I am totally turned off by "free spirited" girls, I think the gal who played this did it quite efficiently. When she confessed that she had never been in love, I believed her. That was one of the poignant moments.
The reason this blonde went for this guy is because she had already been burned by the "player" type too many times. Even though he is a wimp, he's a good listener and trustworthy and that appealed to her. Plus, opposites attract. She could change him.
Having said all that, there wasn't sufficient character development. There had to be more background on how this guy became the way he is, what his parents are like, why he's wearing a cross, and why he likes sports.
Was he a frustrated athlete? We saw that he couldn't play tennis. Did he always wish he could be an alpha-dog like athletes? What did the blonde tennis girl mean about her dad wanting certain things for her? What happened with her ex in Los Angeles? Ed Burns turned in his usual almost-amoral player persona. That guy he always plays does however have a heart for those who are truly close to him. It would be easy to say that his character just wanted to have a partner in crime so he wouldn't feel guilty, but in truth, he saw that his nephew needed help.
There's also a terrific scene with an older actor who plays the lead's future father-in-law. The guy could not have made much money for this, but he gave it his all.
The photography is good, the plot predictable, and the length a bit too long, but the sweet moments redeemed this one and saved it from oblivion. T
