Happy Single

This is one of the first Dutch romcoms that I actually like. Still trying to find out what makes this one kind of stand out.

It might be that the conversations aren't too predictable or trying to explain everything. Or that the characters are slightly more developed and not so flat or perfect. Or that they've actually used actors instead of somewhat famous and hugely overused people who think that saying a few lines without making horrible mistakes make them an actor. Or that there are too many storylines that have no depth. I suppose it is all of the above.

Is it the best romcom I've ever seen? Certainly not. But for Dutch standards it was quite entertaining, somewhat funny and enjoyable.

This movie is the perfect mix of cringe, predictability and terrible acting. If you want a movie that is completely predictable, this is the movie for you! I was sick when I started to watch the movie, at the end I was either laughing at the movie or cringing at it so hard that I didn't notice anything. The main character is about the worst person you will ever meet, she only wants one night stands and doesn't communicate about it AT ALL. This made sure that I was rooting against the main character for the entire movie.

However, we have to put this in the Dutch context. This is simply the standard of Dutch movies...... 2/10 only redeeming quality was that the actor of 'Het jaar van Fortuyn' playing Jan Nagel was in it.

Happy Single lies in that unfortunate zone where it's not a good film, but also not bad enough to laugh at or hatewatch. It checks all the boxes of a romcom, the acting is passable and you'll find an occasional shred of humor. Overall, however, the main story thread is bland and the film doesn't lean into the absurd enough to become genuinely funny. It's a bummer because you can see a good sense of humor shining through the cracks.

The biggest issue, I'd say, is the main character herself, Molly. She's horribly unlikeable and while she could have worked as satire of self-obsessed millenials, it's abundantly clear that we're supposed to root for her as some sort of anti-hero. It's also difficult to buy into the relationship between Molly and her main love interest, Otis. Otis is a shredded, intelligent, empathic and charismatic chad who's single in his 30's (for reasons outside his control, obviously) and who's totally into Molly for...reasons. Maybe if the actors had great chemistry they could've sold this script, but they don't so the entire thing is really difficult to buy into.

In summary, this isn't the worst Dutch movie ever made, but it's also definitely not good enough to recommend you watching it.

Happy Single is a new romantic comedy directed by Anna van Keimpema. This is her cinema film directorial debut, before which she has only directed TV films and series.

Psychologist Mollie (Jamie Grant), is more of a playful lady, who after a date does not see her companion again the next day. If she is in such a situation again with Otis (Juvat Westendorp), she does not expect to see him again in her life.

When she sees Otis back at work the next day, as her new colleague, everything suddenly becomes very uncomfortable. Now that they cannot escape each other as colleagues, Mollie has to think of other things. Even though she tries to avoid Otis, she still finds her feelings for him starting to grow, even though it goes against her own rules.

For a film entitled Happy Single, the story goes somewhat against the title. The main character is more into nocturnal flirting and she keeps trying to hook a man for a one-night stand instead of leading a happy single life. The fact that Mollie and her other colleagues work at a psychologist's practice does not really seem credible. For psychologists, most practices struggle too much with their own problems to really help their clients. Furthermore, as colleagues, they also go out for drinks with each other more often than they actually do helpful work.

The script was written by a writer who has never written an independent film script before. This can be seen in this film through the many coincidences and clichés that happen in the film. This also keeps the film more on a predictable side and most comedic moments come across as awkward rather than really funny.

For Jamie Grant, this is also one of the films in which she plays the leading role in a long time. This can sometimes be seen in her when, for example, she seems to simply read her texts. Unfortunately, her first independently written script doesn't help her much either. Juvat Westendorp has continued to act more in his career, which is reflected in his acting in this film. Unfortunately, he also has to work with a lesser script. The rest of the cast members sometimes come across more like characters from a cartoon because of the actions they do things, or react to somewhere.