No Stranger Than Love

Guys in Spot Valley have a crush on popular school teacher Lucy Sherrington (Alison Brie). She has an affair with married football coach Clint Coburn (Colin Hanks). When she finally says "I love you", a hole opens up in the middle of her living room and Clint falls into the dark abyss. He's left floating somewhere deep inside and she struggles to get him out. Rydell Whyte (Justin Chatwin) is looking for Clint. He's a goon working for Clint's bookie.

It's actually kinda boring to have every man repeatedly hit on her. It's a funny idea that isn't that funny in its execution. That's my general feeling about this movie. The idea of this dark screwball comedy with Alison Brie is fun but it's dead pan flat for the most part. Chatwin tries to be quirky funny but can't get beyond quirky dark. Brie should be more flustered but she's too deer in the headlights. There is an obvious easy way to lie about the hole to his wife but Clint does it poorly. There is the theme of love but it's somewhat muddled. There is nothing overly objectionable but this doesn't engage me.

This film tells the story of a beautiful woman in a small town, who is the centre of attention of all men because of her beauty. One day, the man she has a rendezvous with falls into a hole that mysteriously appears in her living room. She struggles to rescue her date, ad eventually the whole town knows about this mysterious hole.

The plot is a simple one, but "No Stranger Than Love" is actually quite entertaining. Alison Brie plays the beautiful woman who tries to ward off the many potential suitors, and she is so natural and charming while she does that. It is quite funny to see how numerous men try to win her heart, and it is even funnier that the hole just appears in her living room. Hilarious things happen in the film, but there is a touching message at the end. It is a sweet but different romantic comedy. I enjoyed watching it.

This is not going to be to everyone's taste, but still, I am a bit taken aback by the low rating it has. It certainly is different, but I found it quietly charming and enchanting.

People all have their own ideas when it comes to love, but Love with a capital L is far more elusive and can slip through our grasp without us even knowing it.

The men in the village chase after their "ideal" love in the form of Alison Brie. She, it turn loves none of them, not even the coach who finally breaks down her resistance and falls into a hole in her living room for his trouble.

Meanwhile a mysterious stranger arrives to further muddy the waters.

The dialogue is quirky and amusing and adds to the enjoyment.

Characters are filled out making No Stranger Thank Love a surprisingly useful movie. When faced with ethical decisions on love and romance poor choices can lead people in real life to fall into a 'hole' which all of us are familiar with. As often casualties of love do need a lifeline to crawl out of their hole. During this process Colin Hanks is Suspended in a black inter-dimensional hole one of the main characters said, without any distractions I have a new sense of clarity. You may think to yourself this is a corny story line but don't dismiss it too quickly. When Colin's character, Coach Clint Coburn is faced with multiple consequences that would impact his world he is forced to admit his love for his wife. What are your thoughts on sensory deprivation leading to a new sense of clarity?

It's a pity the hole has no closure. This story is a bit quirky, moves to being satirical but in the end is quite simply sweet. Well cast, reasonably delivered and fun to watch. Worth taking a chance on.