A Perfect Pairing

source: A Perfect Pairing

7/10 - I am certainly a sucker for Hallmark-style easy romance movies and am a Victoria Justice devotee so this movie was pretty much made for me, but I think overall, fans of either will find a lot to enjoy here.

Eventually, one gets tired of the stupid, mental games that immature people play. There's always an excuse to duck out of something that can potentially be good. What amazed me was that in the end, Lola tells Max that it won't work, and she gives him a list of reasons why. In short, SHE shot HIM down. And yet, she expects Max to step up and make an effort to keep her as she confesses to Audra? What supreme arrogance! In the Rom-Com world, things are always resolved and put together in a nice little box with a nice little bow. The proverbial "happy ending" is always the safe play. But it's rarely ever the smart one or the realistic one. I don't know many people--let alone guys--who would "step up" when they've just had the door slammed in their face. Why would anyone? These typical "Hallmark" plot ploys are tiresome and overused, and it makes Lola come across as conceited and immature to expect anyone to make a play for her after what she did. Lola is an former LA wine executive who is trying to land a major client in Australia after quitting her job and going solo. Victoria Justice does a decent job, even if she does look like a "fish out of water" in this role. She acts like someone who doesn't want to break a nail or get their hands dirty. Frankly, Kristin Davis did a far more convincing job in "Holiday in the Wild" and perhaps Justice should have gotten some tips. Her inept attempts of trying to adjust to farm life were over-contrived which made them not very convincing as someone who keeps causing and getting into accidents. In short, her physical comedic attempts often came up short, leaving me shaking my head with a "Really? That's the best you could do?" An actor shouldn't look like they're "trying" to be inept in these types of situations. It just comes off badly. Even after a couple of months, she's still the only one in heavy make-up and expensive clothes, while the rest of the women have the rugged/worn look that anyone would bound to have! I guess Justice has to "look good" no matter what. Still, the one saving grace of the film is the scenery. I'm sure a number of people will want to visit Queensland after watching this film. Most of the rest of the cast--except for Lucy Durak who was just absolutely awful--are pretty good. The story is fairly typical and predictable for a Rom-Com. Viewers are not likely to be surprised at all, and those looking for that "happy ending" that always magically takes place in the last ten minutes, won't be disappointed. I've seen worse, but I've also seen a lot better.

Failed for me in a few places: so-so plot; it just didn't have enough depth to really get lost in it, wasn't very immersive. No humour (or humour that was actually funny anyway); I didn't laugh once, "Baaabra Streisand" really? Poor script; she drops the whole thing, goes back home and expects Lover Boy to come running after her after she says it's done? Lazy. This film doesn't take any risks, just sticks to a hollow, run of the mill formula and makes some really poor choices on top of it. I'll give it points for cinematography and scenery, it's a visually pleasing flick, but that's about all the good I can muster up.