Jane (Charisma Carpenter) is an associate editor for a New York City publishing firm called Blush. Being an associate means doing a lot of work, for little glory, and living in a small, unglamorous, lower east side apartment. She approaches her boss one day and asks to be considered for a promotion. He responds by giving her a key assignment. If Jane can produce a winning book with an ex-Hollywood starlet, she'll get her raise. Trouble is, the starlet was once a classmate of Jane's, where they both competed for class office. The starlet won when she opted for a halter top wardrobe. So, there's that. Jane is also dealing with being a bridesmaid for a cousin's wedding and having no boyfriend to bring to the event. Yet, when push comes to shove, Jane tells everyone concerned that she IS dating a doctor and that he will be her guest. Wonder of wonders, she does stumble across a nice looking doc named Timothy (Antonio Sabato, Jr.) who seems just right for her situation. Will everything soon be hunky-dory for Jane? This is lovely film for those fans of light, romantic comedy. The beautiful Carpenter makes Jane an intelligent, talented, charming creature who deserves the best possible ending. Junior plays his pivotal role nicely, too and he is, well, gorgeous. The rest of the cast, although mostly unknowns, is very fine as well. The look of the film is quite wonderful, as the costumes and Manhattan setting exude polish and loveliness. In short, if you are in the mood for a nicely done romcom, do try this one. See how satisfied you are after a showing.
27 Reviews
Not all that bad
man-en-mannetje1 June 2008
I saw this movie twice now and to be honest it's not all that bad. Sure, it's not the same quality as a romantic comedy like Notting Hill but it's OK for an evening with your loved one next to you on the couch. Leading lady Charisma Carpenter (who we all know as Cordelia in Buffy The Vampire Slayer) is acting a lot more natural in this movie compared to her acting performances in BTVS. The story is a little poor, but believable and the performances of the rest of the cast, and I'm talking about the ladies; Holly Marie Combs, Rachelle Lefevre and Sadie LeBlanc show that they are clearly having fun. Also the performance of Linda Tomassone as Morgan is funny and well done.
This could even be a TV series, "older" single girl and her dating problems, the blind-dates, the set-ups by friend etc. "Date in the City"?
This could even be a TV series, "older" single girl and her dating problems, the blind-dates, the set-ups by friend etc. "Date in the City"?
A surprisingly good romantic comedy
ComedyFan20106 February 2014
Not to be a snob, but when I saw that it is a TV movie and a romantic comedy I thought this combination would be a big fail. Surprisingly I enjoyed this movie more than I thought.
While the main idea of the movie is not original: a usual thing, a single woman in her late 20's can't find the date for a wedding and looks for it. But at the same time scenes from the dates with the guys were very well done and had some hilarious humor from the good writing.
I must say the ending was surprising too, really didn't think they would go this way. Actually I liked it.
Holly Marie Combs did some great acting and I liked her character the most. Someone who surprise us and is actually multidimensional.
While the main idea of the movie is not original: a usual thing, a single woman in her late 20's can't find the date for a wedding and looks for it. But at the same time scenes from the dates with the guys were very well done and had some hilarious humor from the good writing.
I must say the ending was surprising too, really didn't think they would go this way. Actually I liked it.
Holly Marie Combs did some great acting and I liked her character the most. Someone who surprise us and is actually multidimensional.
Moved right along
TallPineTree13 February 2006
After a pre-Valentine's weekend of watching a number of romance movies, this was the last one I saw. Although I am far from the target demographic for this movie (late 20s single white urban female), surprisingly it was my favorite movie of the bunch. It moved right along, had some wit, and a couple references to more than shopping, hot guys, and weddings. For example, an interesting reference to DeNiro and Taxi Driver, Richard Gere, and Dustin Hoffman.
Charisma Carpenter well... had charisma and I enjoyed watching her. She wasn't pencil thin and seemed to be a realistic woman.
I enjoyed the dating scenes. There weren't that many and they got the point across succinctly as to why it was a bad date. The guys were insensitive but not as a typically boorish male movie character. And not all guys were bad. For some of the bad dates, I was actually amused. The movie though is more about Jane's growth in herself and in her view of others.
I didn't believe Jane's work environment. Other than her boss, was anyone else over 30? Speaking of age, I thought most of the late 20s female characters looked and acted more like they were in their early-to-mid 20s.
A nice light movie for now. 10-20 years from now - probably will seem dated.
Charisma Carpenter well... had charisma and I enjoyed watching her. She wasn't pencil thin and seemed to be a realistic woman.
I enjoyed the dating scenes. There weren't that many and they got the point across succinctly as to why it was a bad date. The guys were insensitive but not as a typically boorish male movie character. And not all guys were bad. For some of the bad dates, I was actually amused. The movie though is more about Jane's growth in herself and in her view of others.
I didn't believe Jane's work environment. Other than her boss, was anyone else over 30? Speaking of age, I thought most of the late 20s female characters looked and acted more like they were in their early-to-mid 20s.
A nice light movie for now. 10-20 years from now - probably will seem dated.
Surprisingly good for a TV movie
MSusimetsa25 January 2005
I was happily surprised by this made-for-TV movie. At first, the annoying jingles playing on the background in every scene really got on my nerves and distracted from the movie itself, but when one got used to that (learned to ignore it) the movie turned out to be a relatively thoughtful piece on the developing friendship between two women. The bits about dating difficulties actually started to seem a secondary plot, although they provided some funny moments too (not so thoughtful, though). I would have welcomed some less screen time given to the dating aspects and more to the description of the friendship.
Charisma Carpenter was great in her lead role, but Holly Marie Combs was not too bad either.
Charisma Carpenter was great in her lead role, but Holly Marie Combs was not too bad either.
Sweet, Easy & Natural
Pro Jury16 August 2003
Charisma Carpenter is the lead actress here. She is the most wonderful natural fleshed-out TV actress since the great Adrienne Barbeau. The supporting actresses are all fine too. Very rarely in the women's movies of today are there ever any characters with attractive personalities. Let's hope that SEE JANE DATE begins a new trend!
SEE JANE DATE offers a world of mostly nice, sweet, cheerful, very beautiful 20-something ladies at work and play. It is all good-natured fluff. Safe Made-For-TV -- no heavy lifting required. If you are in the mood to watch a very light romance, give at least the first half of SEE JANE DATE a chance.
SEE JANE DATE offers a world of mostly nice, sweet, cheerful, very beautiful 20-something ladies at work and play. It is all good-natured fluff. Safe Made-For-TV -- no heavy lifting required. If you are in the mood to watch a very light romance, give at least the first half of SEE JANE DATE a chance.
cute and light but no big laughs
SnoopyStyle1 September 2015
Single gal Jane Grant (Charisma Carpenter) is a hungry assistant editor assigned to high school nemesis Natasha Nutley (Holly Marie Combs) who is writing a tell-all book. She lies to her about living with a rich doctor boyfriend. Cousin Dana invites the imaginary boyfriend to her wedding. Jane has to find a man to fit the description with the help of her friends Eloise (Rachelle Lefevre) and Amanda (Sadie LeBlanc). She also has to get Natasha to actually write and fast.
Charisma Carpenter is a charming lovely actress. It's an easy moving movie. It's also so easy that there aren't big laughs. It's a series of bad dates which has a problem of mostly being annoying unfunny. Of the other parts, the most compelling relationship is Jane and Natasha. The movie should really be about that duo.
Charisma Carpenter is a charming lovely actress. It's an easy moving movie. It's also so easy that there aren't big laughs. It's a series of bad dates which has a problem of mostly being annoying unfunny. Of the other parts, the most compelling relationship is Jane and Natasha. The movie should really be about that duo.
Jane is Fun
lmuehrer-4496112 May 2017
Light Romantic chick flick comedy....not Tale of Two Cities, but is a 'for fun' movie. I enjoyed it because I thought /think Charisma Carpenter(Buffy the Vampire slayer) is a doll. Story is about Jane looking for love with help from her friendss, working in a busy work environment just not getting the breaks she needs. Holly Marie Combs(Charmed) adds a nice little role as her buddy.
Points for cuteness
lkfanfic6 November 2006
I'm female. 40. And I thought this movie was really formulaic and uninteresting.
Charisma is a fine actress capable of belting out a very good performance: See Buffy, Angel and Veronica Mars for proof of that.
She was vastly dumbed down for this role. Yes, she looks like a cute modern Mary Tyler Moore, but... no....
Impossible to believe "Jane" was second fiddle to anyone. Charisma is gorgeous, and would have stood out if only for that.
Charisma's career may be hitting a dry well, like many Buffy alums, I don't see them doing work worthy of their talent. I hope next time around she picks something worth while.
Charisma is a fine actress capable of belting out a very good performance: See Buffy, Angel and Veronica Mars for proof of that.
She was vastly dumbed down for this role. Yes, she looks like a cute modern Mary Tyler Moore, but... no....
Impossible to believe "Jane" was second fiddle to anyone. Charisma is gorgeous, and would have stood out if only for that.
Charisma's career may be hitting a dry well, like many Buffy alums, I don't see them doing work worthy of their talent. I hope next time around she picks something worth while.
Fun for guys too
doctorsmoothlove14 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Note: I viewed this film on a DVD set from Echobridge Entertainment on a 4K TV with a PS4. The movie is on a DVD with 3 other films and the image quality suffers.
Thankfully the film is enjoyable even with the image limitations. The synopsis gives you an idea about what to expect and the film subverts your expectations. In doing so the film lacks a true antagonist. Several people fill that role on occasion and the film uses it's mild humor to carry the tide between these scenes. Nothing here is laugh out loud funny. The jokes are charming in how cringe-inducing they are. It gets repetitive because after each bad date the heroine goes on, you see another similar joke a few scenes later.
What carries the film is the surprising quality of the acting from all the main characters. Charisma Carpenter plays Jane as a confident woman who is forced to deal with societal expectations that put her life out of her control. We as viewers want to see her take control of her life. The film gets kudos for not being anti-male or anti-female. It's a story about finding oneself. The script doesn't indulge in the comedy cliches you would expect even if nothing about the story is in anyway unique.
For a movie thrown onto a cheap DVD, See Jane Date is a pleasant surprise. If any of the other 7 films are good, then "Movie Rule #101: Good Guys Get the Girl" by Echobridge is worth buying.
Thankfully the film is enjoyable even with the image limitations. The synopsis gives you an idea about what to expect and the film subverts your expectations. In doing so the film lacks a true antagonist. Several people fill that role on occasion and the film uses it's mild humor to carry the tide between these scenes. Nothing here is laugh out loud funny. The jokes are charming in how cringe-inducing they are. It gets repetitive because after each bad date the heroine goes on, you see another similar joke a few scenes later.
What carries the film is the surprising quality of the acting from all the main characters. Charisma Carpenter plays Jane as a confident woman who is forced to deal with societal expectations that put her life out of her control. We as viewers want to see her take control of her life. The film gets kudos for not being anti-male or anti-female. It's a story about finding oneself. The script doesn't indulge in the comedy cliches you would expect even if nothing about the story is in anyway unique.
For a movie thrown onto a cheap DVD, See Jane Date is a pleasant surprise. If any of the other 7 films are good, then "Movie Rule #101: Good Guys Get the Girl" by Echobridge is worth buying.
Huge Disappointment
YOJIMBO-1018 August 2003
This is the first time I have commented on a film because I felt that if the right person read it, they might wake up and do something about it. Over the last few months, ABC Family began airing a new format of movies. I have seen the last three and enjoyed them. They were engaging and did the trick. My wife likes these films. I was looking forward to viewing "See Jane Date". The trailers looked and sounded great. Unfortunately, this is one film where the book must be light years ahead of the effort displayed by the writers and music people involved with this project. The year is 2003, the source (all bad), the score was as interesting as an elevator ride in a department store. It was intrusive and did not add any emotional content to the film at all. It worked against it. I work in the business of film and television . I enjoy being entertained. This is one instance where I kept thinking could it get any worse. The script had lines from another decade and I know these women can act but you wouldn't know it from this movie. To add to the overall experience, the end left me shaking my head. An advice to the executives at Disney, ABC , ABC Family and the producers: Under any circumstances please do not hire the composer or music supervisor to do any of your future films. They have lost their touch and they need to understand what the word "contemporary" , "present day" and "current" means when describing a romantic comedy. There is a world passing you by. All in all a huge disappointment from folks at Von Zerneck-Sertner and ABC Family.
Cute, light, Chick Flick
Quirkystarburns26 December 2004
This was an adorable chick flick that is definitely worth seeing but not necessary by any means. Charisma Carpenter is precisely that: totally charismatic and lovable. She plays an shy, under-confident young woman who has trouble with men and is in search for a date to take to her snotty cousin's wedding. Her two, overly pushy but well-meaning best friends don't help matters and the fact that she is suddenly thrust into working with beautiful, Natasha Nutley (Holly Marie Combs) from highschool makes her predicament even worse. Overall, it's a light comedy that is enjoyable and amusing. Charisma totally sells her character and the audience definitely identifies with her. Holly Marie Combs is hilarious in her portrayal of B-list actress Natasha. Together, Combs and Carpenter make a wonderful duo and light up the screen with their talent, chemistry and well, their Charimsa.
Another thing. It's interesting to note that the movie was filmed only two months after Carpenter gave birth to her son.
Another thing. It's interesting to note that the movie was filmed only two months after Carpenter gave birth to her son.
Not the best I ever sow.
jewelch3 March 2021
This was a pretty good movie. The dialogue is witty and fast, which, coupled with back ground music that's a little overpowering at times, sometimes makes it difficult to catch everything, all in all, not too bad! You might also enjoy It to. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 3/2/2021
Underrated tv rom com featuring some familiar faces
lisafordeay7 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
See Jane Date is a 2003 made for tv romantic comedy starring Clarissa Carpenter (Buffy),Holly Marie Combs(Charmed),Cameron Matheison and Zachary Levi(Tangled).
The story follows a magazine assistant editor named Jane Grant(Carpenter)who happens to be single and has just received an invitation to her younger cousin's wedding. But of course she has to bring a plus one.
However she makes out to everyone, including her obnoxious Aunt Ina and her high school nemesis Natasha Nutley(Combs), that she's in a serious relationship. Now, Jane has just two months to find a guy to fit the fascade.
Jane decides to date a series of men who are all out of her league. Will she eventually find Mr Right or will she be Ms Single forever?.
Overall it was a decent film. If you like Zachary Levi then you'll be sorta disappointed as his barely in the film only for 10 minutes.
The story follows a magazine assistant editor named Jane Grant(Carpenter)who happens to be single and has just received an invitation to her younger cousin's wedding. But of course she has to bring a plus one.
However she makes out to everyone, including her obnoxious Aunt Ina and her high school nemesis Natasha Nutley(Combs), that she's in a serious relationship. Now, Jane has just two months to find a guy to fit the fascade.
Jane decides to date a series of men who are all out of her league. Will she eventually find Mr Right or will she be Ms Single forever?.
Overall it was a decent film. If you like Zachary Levi then you'll be sorta disappointed as his barely in the film only for 10 minutes.
More sexualised than I expected, no good for family viewing
SunnyDaise20 January 2023
We only watched about 5 mins as there were so many sex references! It isn't one for kids / young teens / SEN adults. Also we didn't really like any of the characters in that time frame, so we gave up. Two wrongs defo don't make a right here! Maybe I'll give it another try sometime just to write a more detailed review, but don't hold your breath! Too many shows are sexualised, which is alienating for kids and some adults including my autistic relatives, so it is important to me that my whole family can watch stuff together, especially during these times of being home a lot during the pandemic / financial crisis.
Alright for light entertainment
london_scorpio17 September 2013
This film was pretty much what I expected; light hearted with a few laughs along the way. Would have been quite good if I hadn't figured out who she would end up with as soon as he appeared on screen. Was so obvious. Don't know if that means that the actors had great chemistry or if the plot was simply too predictable. Either way there was no surprises left as I watched the rest of the film. Felt like I was just sitting through pointless events leading up to the already guessed finale. The wedding scene seemed to go on forever with a lot of pointless dancing which felt un-needed - just padding o make the film feature length. Still, not a bad film if you want something light and entertaining
A vary cute and uplifting story, staring a beautiful and talented star of Buffy and Angel past.
BuffyFanOne17 August 2003
See Jane Date was a very cute and funny romantic comedy about a girl who needs a date...fast. She has one month to find a date for her cousins wedding. What sounds like a run of the mill chick flick turns out to be a very funny and well acted romantic story. Charisma Carpenter, of Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel fame pulls of the staring roll of Jane with ease and grace. She is both beautiful and funny. i recommend See Jane Date to all audiences. I give this great romantic comedy a 9/10!!!
A feel good movie.
kzlister17 August 2003
This was entertaining, and just made you feel good. Evan Marriott's role is small, but (I begrudgingly admit) well acted. The acting is not bad, good performances by all the principals. Some loose ends are kind of annoying, but this is a good movie.
Super cute!
gina_italian_girl8 September 2003
I thought this was a super cute made for TV movie. Yes, I am a girl and this is a total chick-flick...but the main character 'Jane' is adorable. And the actress playing her is too cute too. I TEVO'd it and have seen it about 7 times...just loved it. Great little movie to watch with the girls.
Another Cute Romantic Comedy
jennie040916 August 2003
"See Jane Date"... a movie whose storyline is told in the title. This movie chronicle's Jane's life in the Dating World... sometimes scary, sometimes aggravating, sometimes ... perfect. Charisma Carpenter, who plays Jane, has a cute, girl-next-door look to her. She's perfect for a romantic comedy. She hasn't been in many movies, and is more well-known for her roles in "Charmed" and "Buffy." (I'll be honest... I've never really watched either show.) This movie has a bunch of hot guys as well as a bunch of losers, so while you get some eye candy, you see some guys who are all too realistic to us single girls. The good thing, however, is that all of the losers only get to be in a scene or two. The bad thing? The same is true for the cuties. I don't know very much about Linda Dano, who plays Jane's aunt. That's probably because I don't watch soaps. For any soap opera fan, this is a chance to see Ms. Dano in a different venue, and I think she's quite good in this movie. I give this movie 9/10 stars. For a romantic comedy, this is pretty good. But it has the feel of every other romantic comedy, which is the cause of the missing star. Overall, this movie is pretty great, and leaves you with a happy-go-lucky feeling; it's a definite feel-good movie. But for those of us single girls, it's a bit depressing, since it's so realistic. Let's face it: the Dating World primarily sucks, until you find THE ONE. That's why it's great that we have movies like this, which offer a little bit of hope or light at the end of the tunnel, to tide us over until HE comes along.
A wonderful, charming, funny, feel-good film!
elskootero-110 July 2011
SEE JANE DATE is a film like they USED to make, and it's nice to see that, every once-in-a-while, they still do. This film is so good, I can't think of anyone that it wouldn't appeal to. Charisma Carpenter is extremely pretty and I loved her size; She's a very, very attractive, large woman who looks really good, but at the same time, not skinny or anorexic looking like so many modern female celebrities, and she's cute and funny at the same time. Minutes after seeing this film in a theater, I was home ordering a DVD copy, it's that good. Get the DVD and watch SEE JANE DATE. It will make you, as I am, looking forward to Ms. Carpenter's next film.
So it is a chick flick!
nova197118 August 2003
It may not be high brow entertainment, but this is the cutest movie I have seen in a long time. Charisma Carpenter absolutely shines in this role (quite a departure from her Buffy the Vampire role) as does the rest of the cast. Any woman who has felt the pressure of finding Mr. Right because the clock is ticking will revel in this film.
Appealing Lead Supported by Huge Cast of the Semi-famous.
rebekahrox14 May 2021
I have tried to watch this over the years several times, and for some strange reason could not get into it. I have no idea why. It was a funny and sharp rom-com with a charming cast filled with many stars that have since made their mark elsewhere. The charismatic and likable lead is the only one that I was not familiar with. But obviously it's a personal problem because she had major roles in Buffy, Angel and had a continuing role in Veronica Mars, one of my favorite shows. She is a excellent comedienne and actress. She steals every scene she is in, playing a character that many women would relate to with a performance that makes her character even more likable and endearing. No Drama-Queen-itis. So when she finally does lose it, it makes a real impact.
As for the rest of the talented cast, I feel like I should just name them off. Rachel LeFevre from Twilight, Holly Marie Combs of Charmed, Cameron Mathison of Hallmark fame, Zachary Levi of Chuck and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Joshua Malina of In Plain Sight, The Big Bang Theory and others, Yannick Bisson of Aurora Teagarden Mysteries and The Murdoch Mysteries, and Yanic Truesdale of The Gilmore Girls. Antonio Sabato Jr. I'll stop there.
This will definitely be worth a re-watch at some point. It's not really a romance, more a comedy as the focus is on her career challenges, female friendships, and a series of bad dates and disappointments. The love interest kind of comes out of nowhere, although it is foreshadowed.
As for the rest of the talented cast, I feel like I should just name them off. Rachel LeFevre from Twilight, Holly Marie Combs of Charmed, Cameron Mathison of Hallmark fame, Zachary Levi of Chuck and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Joshua Malina of In Plain Sight, The Big Bang Theory and others, Yannick Bisson of Aurora Teagarden Mysteries and The Murdoch Mysteries, and Yanic Truesdale of The Gilmore Girls. Antonio Sabato Jr. I'll stop there.
This will definitely be worth a re-watch at some point. It's not really a romance, more a comedy as the focus is on her career challenges, female friendships, and a series of bad dates and disappointments. The love interest kind of comes out of nowhere, although it is foreshadowed.
Well-done rom com with a message
herrcarter-9216126 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I was surprised at how much I liked this movie, given the relatively low IMDB rating. Were those other folks watching the same movie I was? I'm not even sure you could call this a rom-com. Yeah, the whole premise is about our heroine Jane dating a slew of guys, and yeah, she does eventually click with one of them. But it's much more about her relationships with her girlfriends and her character arc, from a somewhat mousy doormat, who defines her self worth by whether or not she has a boyfriend, to a confident, self-assured woman who is happy with her life and successful in her career. It was fresh and original, and you weren't sure how it would end up until the very end.
The writing in this movie was sharp and witty. None of the cringy fake dialog that you might see in a typical Hallmark romance. I do wish the comedy was a little better. The humor was supposed to come from the series of disastrous dates and abortive attempts at romance that Jane endured. They were more achingly realistic than funny, though, and anyone who has dealt long-term with the singles dating scene will likely be wincing in sympathy with Jane as opposed to laughing at her dating nightmares.
The performances were great. Charisma Carpenter as Jane gave us a heroine who was simultaneously beautiful, but who was also convincingly lacking in confidence and who you immediately identified with and related to. The supporting actors were great too, from her two besties (who she had more chemistry with than any of the guys in this movie) to her obnoxious cousin and aunt, to her dismissive boss, to her former classmate and minor celebrity Natasha. Not all these characters were sympathetic or likable, but they were all well-acted.
The movie had some great messages and I liked how the characters and relationships were nuanced and not one-dimensional. Particularly, the relationship with Jane and Natasha was great. You thought Natasha was going to be a grown-up version of a high-school mean girl, a character you would hate throughout the movie. But she turned out to be full of insecurities herself, and she ended up actually being friends with Jane, and ended up being the one who was even jealous of Jane and not the other way around. Jane had a great character arc in this movie. I especially loved the scene where she told off her annoying cousin and aunt and expressed how she was fine, even if she didn't have a boyfriend.
I also liked how they kept you second guessing about who Jane would end up with. At first, you thought it would be Gary, the guy from the park cleanup activity, then you thought she would get back together with Max, her old boyfriend, then you thought she would finally click with Doctor Timothy, who she really seemed to have some chemistry with. All turned out to be duds, and in the end, you thought she would just end up happy, single and not needing a man in her life to validate her. Then she finally connects with the guy from the store where her cousin's bridal registry was, and he also turned out to be the guy her aunt wanted to set her up with, and he was actually a fun, decent, normal guy. The movie would've been fine, had she not gotten a guy at all, but if she had to, this was the right way to do it. It made sense that, after she stopped being so desperate to find a man and gained more self confidence, she would finally get into a good relationship.
This movie is over 20 years old, but it still seems pretty fresh and contemporary. It was interesting, however, to see a few of the pre-smart-phone aspects that let you know this film was a product of the early 2000's, such as Jane's aunt's surprise that she had actually got a cell phone, and her friend's shocked reaction to Jane not having a Palm Pilot, as, back then "everybody has a Palm Pilot". I'm not even sure my teenage kids would know what a Palm Pilot is.
I watched this for free on Plex, with commercials. I'm glad that this decades-old TV movie, which might have faded to obscurity, is able to be enjoyed by a new audience through the miracle of streaming. It's definitely a hidden gem and a cure for the same-old-same-old rom-com.
The writing in this movie was sharp and witty. None of the cringy fake dialog that you might see in a typical Hallmark romance. I do wish the comedy was a little better. The humor was supposed to come from the series of disastrous dates and abortive attempts at romance that Jane endured. They were more achingly realistic than funny, though, and anyone who has dealt long-term with the singles dating scene will likely be wincing in sympathy with Jane as opposed to laughing at her dating nightmares.
The performances were great. Charisma Carpenter as Jane gave us a heroine who was simultaneously beautiful, but who was also convincingly lacking in confidence and who you immediately identified with and related to. The supporting actors were great too, from her two besties (who she had more chemistry with than any of the guys in this movie) to her obnoxious cousin and aunt, to her dismissive boss, to her former classmate and minor celebrity Natasha. Not all these characters were sympathetic or likable, but they were all well-acted.
The movie had some great messages and I liked how the characters and relationships were nuanced and not one-dimensional. Particularly, the relationship with Jane and Natasha was great. You thought Natasha was going to be a grown-up version of a high-school mean girl, a character you would hate throughout the movie. But she turned out to be full of insecurities herself, and she ended up actually being friends with Jane, and ended up being the one who was even jealous of Jane and not the other way around. Jane had a great character arc in this movie. I especially loved the scene where she told off her annoying cousin and aunt and expressed how she was fine, even if she didn't have a boyfriend.
I also liked how they kept you second guessing about who Jane would end up with. At first, you thought it would be Gary, the guy from the park cleanup activity, then you thought she would get back together with Max, her old boyfriend, then you thought she would finally click with Doctor Timothy, who she really seemed to have some chemistry with. All turned out to be duds, and in the end, you thought she would just end up happy, single and not needing a man in her life to validate her. Then she finally connects with the guy from the store where her cousin's bridal registry was, and he also turned out to be the guy her aunt wanted to set her up with, and he was actually a fun, decent, normal guy. The movie would've been fine, had she not gotten a guy at all, but if she had to, this was the right way to do it. It made sense that, after she stopped being so desperate to find a man and gained more self confidence, she would finally get into a good relationship.
This movie is over 20 years old, but it still seems pretty fresh and contemporary. It was interesting, however, to see a few of the pre-smart-phone aspects that let you know this film was a product of the early 2000's, such as Jane's aunt's surprise that she had actually got a cell phone, and her friend's shocked reaction to Jane not having a Palm Pilot, as, back then "everybody has a Palm Pilot". I'm not even sure my teenage kids would know what a Palm Pilot is.
I watched this for free on Plex, with commercials. I'm glad that this decades-old TV movie, which might have faded to obscurity, is able to be enjoyed by a new audience through the miracle of streaming. It's definitely a hidden gem and a cure for the same-old-same-old rom-com.
See also
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