The Bounce Back (2016) User Reviews

Man, I got absolutely nothing from this move.

[subxerogravity · 5/10 · 10 December 2016]

Shemar Moore and Nadine Velazquez are two of the hottest people you could possibly put on camera, And yet The Bounce Back was sooooo flat. So flat it's actually impressive how flat and lifeless these two are on screen.

Just proof that looking good is not enough to be a tolerable actor. I mean Shemar Moore has Been doing this for years right? I'm realizing I've never actually seen him in anything else or I could have been warned. I seen Nadine Velazquez in things like My Name is Earl and Real House Husbands of Hollywood. Both I love and both I love her in, cause she did good on both shows.... as a supporting actor. I'm guessing she's not ready yet to co-support a film. And I've seen Bill Bellamy at his prime when he was able to hold down his own flick (How to be a Player) so very surprise how his comedy bounce off of me like I was bulletproof.

The movie was not awful but it was not good, it was flat very flat like a soda without the fizzle. Everything was lined up correctly, but somehow nothing sizzles.

It's something to catch if you have nothing else, but it does not leave any after flavor.

http://cinemagardens.com

lazy, but pleasant romantic fare

[dave-mcclain · 4/10 · 9 December 2016]

I was wrong. When I included "The Bounce Back" (PG-13, 1:44) in the "Movie Fan Community" Facebook Page's "Wait for It Wednesday" post with the weekend's other nationwide releases, I referred to this film as a "romantic comedy-drama". It's not very accurate to imply that it's a rom-com. It's really more of a drama, without much comedy in it. I was also wrong in our "Throwback Thursday" post in which I related this movie to a "Retro Reel Review" of "Ride Along", referring to "The Bounce Back" as having a "mostly African-American cast". Actually, this cast is very ethnically diverse and, more importantly, the film almost completely ignores race and racial differences. Very refreshing for a bi-racial romance! Shemar Moore plays Matthew Taylor, a self-help relationship guru who has written the book of the film's title. He's confident, charismatic and, as one character says, "He's gorgeous". As the movie opens, with Terry Twist (Bill Bellamy), Matthew's agent and best friend at his side, he is busy promoting his book on local TV talk shows and conducting seminars in which he explains the principles in his book to rooms full of lovelorn women. He advises the women that the best way to get past heartache is to pretend the past doesn't exist, identify the future they want for themselves and focus on their goals.

It's a message that clinical psychologist Kristin Peralta (Nadine Velazquez) thinks is naïve and uninformed – and she isn't shy about sharing her opinions. When her girlfriends (Megan Stevenson and Robinne Lee) take her on a weekend getaway that ends up involving attendance at one of Matthew's seminars, she tells him exactly what she thinks of him – in public. This leads to a joint talk show appearance which makes for great TV and leads to other offers for them to appear together. As the two of them spend more time together, since this IS a romance, they develop feelings for each other.

But both Matthew and Kristin bring their emotional baggage on their travels – and into their relationship. Matthew wrote his book as a way to get past his divorce, but it's obvious that he may not have moved on as completely as he thinks he has. His frequent visits with his daughter, Aleya (Nadja Alaya), keep him grounded, but he's still romantically closed-off. Likewise, Kristin has had her heart broken, but she has been a little less successful at moving on with her life as Matthew has. Meanwhile, Terry has to deal with his dislike for Kristin, as he develops a love-hate relationship with a TV producer.

"The Bounce Back" is a typical romance in some ways, and very different in others. Its story is uninspired and will remind Movie Fans of similar (and better) movies like "The Perfect Match" (2016), "The Ugly Truth" (2009) and "You've Got Mail" (1998). The script, by Victor Teran, Staci Robinson and Youssef Delara (who also directs), is mostly dull and lifeless and settles for characters who are as much cardboard cut-outs as those of Matthew, which appear in bookstores throughout the film. Delara's direction is lazy, which is especially apparent during the obligatory romantic montage which isn't much more than Matthew randomly pointing at stuff in Times Square. There's also a lack of realism in the casting which seems like simply a Parade of the Pretty People. Where the film does deserve credit is during its third act which is pleasingly romantic – and extra credit for its post-racial approach to relationships. Also, the performances of Bellamy and Alaya are very good. But those things aren't quite enough to warrant my recommendation. If you see this film and are disappointed, don't worry, you'll bounce back. If you see it and decide I'm wrong about my criticisms, that's okay. I know how to bounce back too. (Bounce back too – NOT Bounce Back Two. I don't want to give producers any ideas.) "C+"

Cute but not more

[scan-45735 · 5/10 · 24 March 2024]

I love romantic comedies but this one was really neutral for me. It was fun but not anything else. We have a good scenario here which I think wasn't really exploited. There wasn't any alchemy between the characters, I couldn't feel it. There wasn't the seduction, the spicyness of a fresh relationship so, it was a little bit boring.

What misses here is movement. Something noticeable. And also, some advices about the bounce back book that could've been really enjoyable as in the movie "Think like a man".

So my final opinion is : this is a good movie to enjoy during a sunday evening but don't wait to be in love with the movie,

Don't Waste Your Time

[mdjohnson-73266 · 1/10 · 12 March 2018]

Nothing original here, a professional black man pursuing a white woman. Also, Bill Bellamy isn't funny, and Shemar Moore's lovely empty smile doesn't excuse the fact that he simply can't act.

Yes

[melvinmarkis · 7/10 · 25 January 2020]

This was funny, nice and well done. Very cute. A cool comedic romantic watch. Velasquez is HOT!!! Woe

It is so bad that...

[Sherazade · 1/10 · 21 April 2017]

you can literally feel the cast struggling (with their d-rate talent) to grab at the strings of what should be the script. Characters pop-up everywhere and anywhere even when them being there makes no sense at all, the scenes (while trying not to be) are whiny and preachy and even the actors cannot seem to commit to the delivery of the insipid lines they are reading. On one end the film is saying therapy has no purpose but you're letting a life coach tell you what to do, on another end you're saying life coaching serves no real purpose but you're letting your vapid friends tell you what to do. This film has no real mission and therefore the only logical moral to any of the tales it tells is to solve your own life issues as you see fit, preferable without the help of this POS excuse for a film.

Maybe it's just perfect timing...

[joiwhitmore · 7/10 · 10 February 2020]

I admittedly am biased in favor of Shemar Moore! That being said, I found this movie at a perfect time when I was going through a breakup. It made me have hope again and for that I give it a high-ranking. Maybe had I seen this movie at another time it wouldn't have had such an impact on me. Definitely recommend for someone who might be losing hope after break-up. It might just give you that little bit of movie magic that you need to keep going.

That lady was soooo annoying

[BlurryWitch · 2/10 · 11 January 2023]

I didn't like the movie.

The female lead was so unlikable. Ugh. She was so unpleasant. I couldn't empathize with her or care about her at all. Incompetent, too. If that's a psychologist, I'm an astronaut. The hysterical screaming got on my nerves. During their "debates" I actually fast forwarded because her rants were so unpleasant. The writing should have made her more likable. And they should have hired a better actress. This actress can't act. Her character is flat as cardboard. Her "vulnerability" didn't touch me, she just came across irritating.

The mandatory sex scene evvvvvery Hollywood movie has - insert rolleyes - also made me cringe and fast forward. Why oh why does every Hollywood movie have a sex scene in it? Yawn. It's getting really boring. In some cases, it's important to show it for the plot, but in cases like this here, you can just show them waking up next to each other with happy smiles on their faces the next morning, and we'll get it.

The whole thing was boring, annoying, and pointless. I wasn't inspired by it. I actually quit a few minutes before the end, when she screams hysterically and runs him over with the car, I was like, okay that's it, I've had enough of her, and I switched it off. Predictable as the plot was, I'm sure I didn't miss much.

Two stars for the kid, who was the only bright sunshine in the movie.

Too bad it's not a real book, though! I would have bought it lol.

REALLY poor remake (or copy)

[eggbp-378-544557 · 1/10 · 23 July 2017]

Very VERY poor remake of Hitch (2005) starring Will Smith.

Nothing original about this film, especially as it's already been done EXACTLY the same. You're better off re-watching Hitch as it has more attractive people and better acting.

Avoid, really, just stay away.

That is all, carry on.

Not as bad as I thought.

[Lovestories · 10/10 · 31 January 2019]

I actually enjoyed looking at all these beautiful people. And Bill was quite refreshing!

Abs overload

[sweetdoxy · 2/10 · 24 January 2019]

I don't even know where to start. I saw the film about a week ago and thought of writing a review right after but thought I'd be too harsh so I waited in hopes to feel more positive about it. I don't. I can't say there was anything in the movie that I liked. Maybe the daughter character/actress. She was the most sincere thing in it. Now onto the things I didn't like, aka basically the whole thing. 1. I feel like this was made just to show off Moore's abs. Like, he is likable to me and he's handsome in a way but please!!! enough with the ab talk and how gorgeous he is. It would have been just as dumb if they had put in a fake boobed woman and then throughout the film keep mentioning how amazing her tatas are. So it was basically like a porn movie without the sex. No story, just showing off a person's body and heavily foucsing on mentioning how hot they are without any point to it whatsoever. 2. The lead female character was so unlikable. She was an angry mess and should never go anywhere near psychology or patients in need of psychotherapy. She can drive you insane all on her own. She was just nasty, unpleasant, unlikable, unstable, erratic... just horrible. There was no way to connect to her at all. She was made to look un-connectable too. Just a cute face or something. A nasty cute face character. 3. Now I don't exactly know what pills she took when she was about to get it on with the lead male but that's when I really lost hope for the film. They looked to be meds not illicit drugs and the ignorance was unbearable in the bed scene while she was drugged. You in no way shape or form start acting drunk when on those kinda meds and you never have a hangover/amnesia type of thing aftwerwards. It was so embarrassingly ignorant. It's horrifying how the writers, director and actress herself didn't know about this kind of thing. No research of any kind. It takes away from the credibility, depth and essence of the film. It's just random nothingness. 4. The film was just so shallow, mostly cause it was focusing heavily on Moore's appearance, it was impossible to connect to it emotionally. It was just showy. Showing off abs. How can one make a real emotional connection with abs!? 5.The girlfriends in the film were just useless characters. No depth no anything. 6. Moore's sad faces didn't really work that well either cause they were over shadowed by his abs. 7. Moore's speeches about love and life didn't work either cause they were over shadowed by everyone ooh'ing and aah'ing over his abs. 8. Okay, one little thing that was almost good was the rib bar scene where they owned each other with their agendas. If the whole film had been of the same level of that scene it would have been "fine" but right now, everything else was so much weaker. 9. The male lead's friend was supposed to be the comedic part I guess. The guy had potential and he peaked within the low standards of the film. I'd definitely watch him in something good. All the other characters were so empty and forgettable, the friend too but he stood out a little.

All in all, a waste of resources. Everyone who wasn't part of writing this thing, I feel bad for cause I know I wouldn't want this poor thing attached to my CV. I hope they can all do better than this. I'd give it a 1 but for the daughter and friend character, I'll give both of them half a point so the total is 2 stars.

ENTERTAINING.

[norwilita-demarks · 10/10 · 9 November 2018]

I loved the ROMANCE/COMEDY in this MOVIE, By the way she's Puerto Rican 😍

This was the cutest ever love story!!

[klmreview · 10/10 · 10 August 2021]

I just thought..I would love to see a movie -rom-com with people of color!! Not the assistant being of color!! Full leads in color!! And then I tapped on Bounce Back!! We need more like this!! No yelling or beating or guns!! Just a wonderful love story!! And Shemar and Nadine connected so lovely in this story about old and new relationships looking from within to get over and move on!! Awesome music!! I REALLY would like more of this kind of movie!! ( And I'm a white Senior 😉)Love love the energy and spiritual connection these two seemed to have on camera!! Love story well told and acted!!!