Nice Guy Johnny

A very funny, yet solid storyline. Bright and full of laughs, as surely we all identify with that big decision- follow our dreams and our hearts OR do the easiest thing with the greatest promised reward. I laughed until I had tears in my eyes. Yes there is profanity, sexual innuendo and drug/alcohol use. Where isn't there? It was never gratuitous. I was fortunate enough to see this at the Savannah Film Festival and listen as Mr. Burns' spoke about his decision to make this movie, using fresh talent who pegged what I believe his intention when he wrote it. All 20somethings should watch and heed; us 30somethings look back and wish we had.

Johnny (Matt Bush) is a nice guy, or a push-over, depending on how you see it. But he's also a pretty good character. Very handsome, sweet, and well, nice; he's a good romantic comedy hero.

It's basically a twenty-something finds himself romantic comedy. It's nothing you haven't seen before, but it is cute, funny and romantic. Matt Bush and Kerry Bishé have great chemistry and their romance is engaging.

Writer, director Edward Burns has both matured and gotten in touch with his younger self. He's no longer playing the main character in his romantic comedies, and here he has adequately written for a guy in his mid-20s. The plot and dialogue are obvious and predictable, but that's not necessarily a bad thing here. If you're looking for a twenty-something finds himself romantic comedy, then "Nice Guy Johnny" is certainly watchable.

This film is trying to be a fantasy of innocent romance. Personally, I think the rhythm, predictable storyline, and the scenery delivers. No, I don't expect to be a perfect romance story. I expect to be a 6 to 7 out of 10 love story.

The biggest mistake is the leading male actor, he spoils the whole film. He has a strange body shape, his acting is not convincing. He looks like a little brother of Kerry Bishe, instead of a couple. Casting as a 25 years old bachelor, I expect he has a bit more maturity. As a whole, he doesn't bring the best of Kerry Bishe. However, the innocent and unusual stunning look of Kerry is best captured in this film.

I personally think this is above average of Edward Burn's films.

I'll preface this by saying I have never seen an Edward Burns film, not for any particular reason, I've just never seen one.

After this movie, I doubt I'll bother seeing another.

It wasn't a BAD movie, just poorly cast and rather pointless.

If this was written by the main actor in order to show that he can act and that he's a viable choice for films, then I could see the point of this movie. Otherwise it's a story that's been told a million times before, completely predictable and cliché.

The main actor isn't bad, just poorly cast. He's completely unbelievable as a radio personality or as a romantic lead, he looks and sounds 14.

My other minor gripe is that I don't know who this movie is really for. If it's a romance designed to appeal to women, then the main female lead is either poorly written or poorly directed. She's completely uninterested in the guy until he says he has a fiancée, then she's in full on flirt mode, very unappealing.

So overall, don't waste your time, unless your a huge Ed Burns fan apparently.

This picture had some sweet moments. I'm actually o.k. with the lead looking so young and sounding even younger, because in real life he is the age that he was playing. That made things more interesting.

Even short, skinny, passive guys can find girlfriends. Especially if the guy is a gentleman. If the actor had been more "normal," this movie would have been more common.

The fiancée was also well cast. Not a beauty. Just a generic spoiled East Coast girl. Of course a controlling girl is going to choose a puppy dog guy.

While I am totally turned off by "free spirited" girls, I think the gal who played this did it quite efficiently. When she confessed that she had never been in love, I believed her. That was one of the poignant moments.

The reason this blonde went for this guy is because she had already been burned by the "player" type too many times. Even though he is a wimp, he's a good listener and trustworthy and that appealed to her. Plus, opposites attract. She could change him.

Having said all that, there wasn't sufficient character development. There had to be more background on how this guy became the way he is, what his parents are like, why he's wearing a cross, and why he likes sports.

Was he a frustrated athlete? We saw that he couldn't play tennis. Did he always wish he could be an alpha-dog like athletes? What did the blonde tennis girl mean about her dad wanting certain things for her? What happened with her ex in Los Angeles? Ed Burns turned in his usual almost-amoral player persona. That guy he always plays does however have a heart for those who are truly close to him. It would be easy to say that his character just wanted to have a partner in crime so he wouldn't feel guilty, but in truth, he saw that his nephew needed help.

There's also a terrific scene with an older actor who plays the lead's future father-in-law. The guy could not have made much money for this, but he gave it his all.

The photography is good, the plot predictable, and the length a bit too long, but the sweet moments redeemed this one and saved it from oblivion. T