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A Novel Premise is Undercut

Orlando Weekly | March 27, 2007

The television-style production quality and thinly drawn characters of Speed Dating combine to undercut a novel premise. A young bajillionaire can't get a date and winds up obsessively attending speed-dating sessions. James is good-hearted, heartbroken and completely incompetent relationship-wise. His propensity for telling bald-faced lies to potential paramours is only the beginning of his problems; his leeching friends, out-to-lunch parents and thoroughly cynical therapist don't do much to help. James' speed-dating forays are ripe ground for sharp comedy, but writer/director Tony Herbert went for broad ridiculousness instead, which makes James far less sympathetic than he should be. The film is little more than a pleasant diversion.

Tags: speed dating, Tony Herbert

Orlando Weekly

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