User reviews

A mixed cast out of established actors and "Newcomers" aka. "Isn't that the guy from (insert show-name here)" loosens up the mood and gives the general idea that the movie doesn't take itself too serious. Creative details like glowing numbers on bottles and texts in the air also contribute to this.

Furthermore, multiple laugh out loud-moments. Which is always a plus!Rebel Wilson is hilarious. Everybody has to agree at least on that.

Surprisingly not the most stereotypical cheesy wannabe perfect life- ending. A deeper meaning in said ending compliments the movie as a whole, without coming over as forced.

Of course movies like that always sort of have this fakeness about them. I mean, everybody knows that you could never be able to afford this huge apartment in NYC nor experience a love story like that. But you don't watch these films to get realistic life-reviews. You want to simply look at pretty people partying, doubting existence and having sex. In a not weird way of course. "How to be single" will provide you with all three, without making you gag over the silly tackiness.

Good movie + Rebel Wilson = bad movie

I would have enjoyed this film a lot, if Rebel wouldn't have been it. Her character was so annoying that my family and I almost stopped watching the movie. She has the most annoying roles in movies and they still keep casting her. The roles she plays are really one-sided, the recipe is simple: one joke characters, who know how to party and are allowed to say and do anything.

The story line is not too complex, however, for a one-watch-only movie it is not that bad. There were some good puns and I was kind of interested in the ending.

Dakota Johnson plays Alice, a young woman we meet as she "takes a break" (in Friends language) from her college sweetheart in order to discover herself – i.e. sleep with someone else to convince herself she's in love. It backfires and she finds herself alone in New York. That's when she meets Robin (Rebel Wilson), who takes her on an odyssey of booze, clubs, and sofa-surfing. Meanwhile, Alice's sister (Leslie Mann) is trying to conceive via IVF, while resisting the charms of a hunky admirer (Jake Lacy).

There are myriad subplots, each involving variously unattached women and men. Some are affecting (a man grieving for his late wife) and some are misguided (a manic woman breaking down before a group of children at a book reading), but it all amounts to a brisk and enjoyable constellation of familiar rom-com elements – with just a few mild surprises thrown in for good measure.

The film's very title tells us this won't be a serious feminist essay, but as a soft-focused glance at the pariah world of singledom it does the job. At times it's even vaguely complex in its exploration of paradoxical human needs. It's also admirably restrained in its condemnation of sexually-active men. Yes, it's a chocolate box New York and the final message lands like a candy floss hammer, but fair play for populating the narrative with no clear villains.

Dakota Johnson is fine, even if she has the air of a dramatic actor shoehorning herself into comedy. That's no easy thing – De Niro's been trying and failing for decades. Alice is an everywoman, and the humour comes from the situations she finds herself in (e.g. tone-deaf attempts at casual flirtation; awkward parties where her three exes meet). Many of these situations are triggered by BFF Robin. Wilson is used to spectacularly indecent effect, although it's a pity it takes so long for the story to give her any depth beyond hedonism.

Mann's tussle with independence versus commitment would normally be the stuff of entire rom-coms; perhaps its relegation (along with threads) to smaller sub-slices is a tacit acknowledgement that How To Be Single is a greatest hits package rather than something bold or new.

Apparently this movie cost nearly $40m, although it's hard to see where the money went. It's aesthetically limited and stagey and it's no star vehicle. Still, it'll make its money back because it's the safest bet on the post-Valentine's schedule. A determinedly straightforward watch, from top to bottom How To Be Single aims to be a three-star movie and succeeds.

This film tells the story of four women who are single, but have different ways to approach being single. Some of them want a relationship, while some of them want to remain single.

"How to Be Single" is not a step by step guide on how to remain single, as I thought it might be. It is actually quite a realistic take on the modern dating and relationship world. It shows some people are afraid of relationships, some people are desperate, while some people are inept at getting relationship.

The plot is sweet, bitter and bittersweet, reflecting what urban people go through in the dating world. I enjoyed watching it.

How to Be Single should be named How Not to Be Single. Not that it's material is bad, because it's very good indeed. However, it may give off the wrong impression to its younger audience. Dakota Johnson makes some very rash decisions, not knowing who she wants to be with, and where she wants to be. Her newest, closest chum Rebel Wilson hits life hard. Her opinion of a good night is ending up in a strangers house, having many sexual encounters and not remembering much of them. Leslie Mann is the older sister to Johnson, an independent woman with a younger love- interest rattling her cage. And then there's the weird Alison Brie, the egotistic Anders Holm, and the family man Marlon Wayans Jr. These are characters picked out fresh from the stereotype's pool. Gags are thrown in, coming mainly from the outrageous Wilson (no surprises there). Apart from its misleading title, manages to make us chuckle, if not smile. Most women (and men) out there will fall for the adorable baby that Mann has to briefly look after in a very early, very memorable scene. It will be hard to contain yourselves.

Put your votes up (hopefully up and not down that is). But apart from Beyonce lyrics, what does this movie actually give to you the viewer? A somewhat mixture of real but still scripted lives of individuals. It tries to keep it as real as possible and I'd say it mostly succeed. Still there are movies who do not have all the glossy parts and the nice shots accompany the story or elevate it.

Of course this is not about all ladies staying single and not all of them are really content or happy with their situation. Quite the opposite is true for some of them. But you can get into their mindset and the dialog is really well written. If you like your romantic comedy to be unconventional and focus on real women (and men) rather than some fairy tale, this is for you

Valentine's Day has just come and gone and serves as a reminder with how special relationships can be. The holiday also can be harder for those that are not in relationships. It's not just for those that are sad that they are alone, but it even harder for those that are content with their single status. Some often questions for those that are fine with being single are, "Isn't life just sad without a lover?" and "your moment will come soon". I'll bet that the person that tell you that are ones that are in relationships (like your friends or even parents) and are not walking in your shoes.

I myself have been in and out of relationships enough to know the benefits of being single. For one thing, the extra time gives me a chance to explore other hobbies. Traveling alone is awesome as you get total freedom with what you want to see. You even have a better chance to hang with friends (whether they are in relationships or not). It's within this grace period when you can also decide with even if your ready to give romantic relationships another go. Different women explore the single lifestyle in How to Be Single.

Recent post grad Alice (played by Dakota Johnson) decides to put a break on her college boyfriend in order to go see the world. Her heart takes her to New York City where she acquires a job as a paralegal and a couch to sleep on at her older sister Meg (played by Leslie Mann). She also gains a friend with Robin (played by Rebel Wilson), who uses her single lifestyle to party and have constant one night stands. She teaches Alice how to successfully pick up guys and how to have fun the Robin way.

One such place for Robin and Alice is a bar run by Tom, who has an even bigger routine for one night stands, going as far to remove food and running water in his apartment so that women have to leave the next morning. Tom becomes friends with the young woman living above him, Lucy (played by Alison Brie), whose so determined to find the right guy that she even creates an algorithm and posts several profiles on dating websites. While Alice and Rebel continue to explore with hat it means to be single, Meg decides to become a mother through sperm donation and even starts to date a guy younger then her.

I'll give How to Be Single a lot of credit for not falling into the traps of most romantic comedies. That's not to say that it does in some areas, but often the story will drift into different directions, not letting you sure where things are going to end up.

The movie takes advantage of the fact that it's a comedy and while Rebel Wilson does will with her usual personality you've seen before (though without making any predictable fat jokes), I would have not expected Dakota Johnson to be as funny as she was.

How to Be Single is probably one of the few chick flick movies that prove that they can be just as funny as any guy comedy. A lot of the dialogue reminded me a lot of Bridesmaids and 500 Days of Summer. While some situations, especially the sub plot of Alison Brie's character, don't connect to the main story, a lot of it is made up with it's own humor.

As I said, despite making jokes about romance, it accidentally follows some romantic film clichés like falling for someone too quickly, but they don't happen too often.

I'll give this seven single statuses out of ten. How to Be Single was a genuine surprise with how much it made me laugh and not be able to know where the story was going. It should make most single people feel good…and even those that are in relationships.

How To Be Single is not a typical romantic comedy,but refreshing, entertaining one for what it's worth. I expected this movie for worse and actually got a lot of fun for sure. Furthermore, multiple laugh out loud-moments. I love the way they used of music and colorful set decoration. Anyway, I repeat it's not a typical romantic comedy but it's romantic and you can have a lot of fun without expecting too much.

All in all, as I said, I overall enjoyed this film for what it was worth as a romantic comedy. It was refreshing and modern. The cast brought a great comedic energy in their own unique ways. I would recommend this movie as a great candidate for a nice date night out. Although even the story is something interesting to embrace.

Overall I enjoyed 'How to Be Single'. As I said before, the plot is a very modern plot that many people have either been involved in or have been a witness to personally and all while everything happens, it is quite comical from beginning to end. Each actor and actress had a very entertaining and comedic role and all brought a creative energy to the film with each minute that passed. Dakota Johnson included. After seeing 'Fifty Shades of Grey' (yes, I know, I watched it, stop judging), I thought Dakota was unimpressive to say the least but in 'How to Be Single', she brings a very low-key comedic energy to the table and I found myself laughing at many of her quips and one- liners.

One-time comedy for a boring evening. It could be used as a great source of white noise to make the process of cleaning your house more bearable. You don't need to watch the film very attentively, because even if you miss 20 or 60 minutes, it will still be clear what happened and what is going to happen. Unfortunately, much should not be expected from this movie.

For me, it was obvious even from the very beginning. The cast, the poster, the soundtracks, and especially the name. Everything gives you a vibe of a cheap comedy where you can't find a single new idea to think about.

The film tells the story of several girls who live their lonely lives in search of themselves. Each character is looking for something unique and necessary for them in their solitude.

So if you aren't ready to spend your time watching something decent and meaningful, the film is just for you.

I'll be honest, I was dragged to this movie by a girl friend. I was tired of the rom com genre. I had seen it all before. Ill say this, this movie strips away all those clichés and goes in the opposite direction. What a lovely and funny R rated comedy with a lot of heart. There are so many charming moments that I cannot even explain them all. Rebel Wilson does her usual thing but here she perfects it and brings a certain edge to her performance. Its my favorite performance of hers. Dakota Johnson gives the best performance of her young career and Leslie Mann owns her roll. Its her funniest, saddest, and truest performance to date. Yes Im still talking about a raunchy comedy here. There is more to this movie than you might think. The men in the film are actually better written that most clichéd men in romantic comedies. Finally, the ending is just perfect for those single people out there.I advise seeing this with a friend and not with a significant other. **** out of 5 stars.

I did not have the courage to read all the previous reviews but it seems like many people did not enjoy this movie at all.

How to be Single is a very stereotyped kind of rom-com full of clichés and predictable moments BUT what I did enjoy is that it was rather accurate. I think that the title fits perfectly. The main character, Alice, breaks up with her college boyfriend because she wants to be single for a while in order to find herself and achieve that, she does what most people do : she gets involved with other guys.

I think that the main point of this movie is precisely to show that what most people believe it is to be single is not actually being single. Alice understands that by the end of the movie and I really liked that. It is rather refreshing for a rom-com. Other than that, yes, How to be Single is not innovative but it is not such a bad movie.

What is this movie about? Is this even funny? I had vicarious embarrassment watching this.

Not your typical romcom. This film actually explores what dating life is like for different people and has a pretty good message.

I have to admit that I only started watching this movie because I think Dakota Johnson is SMOKING HOT!, I really didn't care if the movie sucked... BUT I was so pleasantly surprised to be so entertained!

I've never found Rebel Wilson to be very funny, but she cracked me up in this movie!

I am 45 years old, I've watched my share of romantic comedies, and this by far is the best of the bunch....

it is not your run of the mill ROMCOM, it is clever, and so much different than what you're used to!

Guys! watch this with your lady, you can BOTH enjoy it!

Before the film really gets going, it's apparent that "How to Be Single" has modeled itself almost entirely from "Sex and the City." The New York setting, the music, the characters, the momentary male nudity, and the dreaded voice-over designate this feature project as a smaller, episodic production along the lines of the aforementioned television series. And, indeed, with the cast of four primary women and their array of farcical sexual situations, this simple comedy looks and feels unmistakably like imitation adventures for derivations of Carrie Bradshaw and crew. And that's not a good thing.

"This story isn't about relationships," insists Alice Kepley (Dakota Johnson), even though the picture proceeds to be entirely about the pursuit of significant others. She goes on to suggest that women's lives should not be defined by relationships, and that what happens in between such unions is real life. Women are supposed to be cheerful about being single, or at least hide any display of embarrassment about solitariness, but all they truly yearn for is meaningful connections. Throughout the course of the film, her character, along with her costars, can do nothing but show open dismay or discomposure over breakups and separations.

When Alice decides to broaden her experiences with the opposite sex, she leaves longtime boyfriend Josh (Nicholas Braun) for a paralegal position with Brown, Light, and Finkelstein in the Big Apple - where she immediately meets nonstop party girl Robin (Rebel Wilson). Taking the unpracticed youth under her wing, Robin shows Alice how to have a good time - and having a good time is defined by heavy imbibing, spontaneous sex, and memory loss. An early montage demonstrates that the essential routine for serious partygoers involves drinking at a bar, drunken intercourse, waking up next to a stranger, nursing a hangover, and stumbling into work to prepare to do it all over again. The problem with this setup is that, despite its modernized representation as adolescent convention, the characters appear despicable for succumbing to such progressive yet fleeting existences. Love looks so much better in cinema when it's not marred by empty, casual sex.

Additionally, in this hopelessly fictional world, women are unable to possess both a good career and a good man. Though the story was molded by numerous writers (based on the book by Liz Tuccillo), it betrays an incredibly sexist attitude with this message. Furthermore, it proposes that young people are inherently prone to partying and promiscuity, while older people must be responsible and boring; this is the standard categorization of maturity and anyone who falls outside of this compass is abnormal. "Reading is for ugly losers!" instructs Robin, as Alice is forced to choose between loneliness or sleeping with convenient acquaintances. Meanwhile, dating-website mathematician Lucy (Alison Brie) is convinced that the odds are against her for finding a worthwhile companion, and Alice's sister Meg (Leslie Mann) decides she wants a child, but can't depend on a relationship with a man to have one - resorting to a sperm donor whom she never has to meet.

Rebel Wilson plays Rebel Wilson, spewing penis jokes and booze quips every time the mood becomes too dour from all of the collapsing relationships. And the rest of the cast adopts generic personas of romanticists perpetually disappointed by the cold reality of loveless hookups and shifting desires. It's a group of characters that commands little sympathy and less purpose, exhibited as juveniles merely waiting to develop away from the childish fantasies of love and happiness. What a depressing assemblage of contemptible yet physically attractive spirits.

• The Massie Twins

I went and watched this movie "How to be Single" with two of my other single friends. We went expecting it to be a hilarious movie and that's exactly what it was. Its basically a show of how each person reacts with breakups/ relationships in their own ways. We laughed the whole time. I kind of expected it to answer the question a little bit more but it didn't at all. Just kind of showed how they coped with the relationship. Most of the humor was kind of awkward in that matter. It kind of switched back and forth between being single sucks and needing to be in an relationship than back to its okay to be single. For the most part we enjoyed it because of the characters who were in it but I have seen better.

It's the lives of various singles in NY. Alice (Dakota Johnson) takes a break from college boyfriend Josh (Nicholas Braun) to find herself. She befriends new co-worker hard-partying Robin (Rebel Wilson). Her sister Meg (Leslie Mann) is an OBGYN who suddenly wants to have a baby. After sleeping with bar owner Tom (Anders Holm), Alice tries to return to Josh but he has found someone else. The deliberately-single Tom is taken with Lucy (Alison Brie) who is searching for marriage. Alice dates widower dad property developer David (Damon Wayans Jr.). Meg meets younger Ken (Jake Lacy) at Alice's office Christmas party.

I actually expected four single gals in a raunchy 'Sex and the City' type comedy. That's not what this is although Rebel Wilson does her best to make it one. In fact, I don't remember Alison Brie having a conversation with the other three women. This is really about a bunch of connected singles. It has a bit of fun. The story wants to be substantive but it gets tied up. It's better than those Day-of-the-year movies by Garry Marshall but that's not saying much. It has moments of fun by these actors and the characters are likable enough.

There's not a scene in this movie that was either sensical or realistic. The dialogues, characters, behaviours, apartments, interactions are all from cuckoo land.

Two stars for the crew getting out of bed. No value whatsoever came after that.

This is a better than average romantic comedy. I gave this one an extra star, because, although it largely followed the rom-com formula, meaning happy endings for most of the characters, it wasn't obvious who was going to end up with who, or otherwise. Rare is the film in this genre that does not telegraph its exact ending at least forty minutes away. Rebel Wilson played to type and was quite amusing. Alison Brie was lovely, and played her neurotic role very well. Dakota Johnson was absolutely adorable. I hope to see more of her in the future. Kudos to Leslie Mann, as well. The New York sets and photography were impressive, and there were no obtrusive directing techniques.

For a Monday evening after a long hard day, this was very easy chewing gum for the eyes tv.

I mean even I know that the Manhattan apartment with three areas PLUS little balcony area complete with pretty pottted plants was nothing more than fantasy - but, I didn't take it seriously. It was just an hour and a half of easy escapism without having or wanting to think.

Job done.

At this point I'm going to chuck it up to generational differences and reality because I'm in my 30s and I actually know what real life in NYC is like.

As for generational differences, after watching several millenial-oriented movies, I'm going to assume that stupid and imagination-less crass crap is the new funny and that below average women are the new interesting women.

As for reality, it reminds me that a paralegal can't afford a full apartment by herself in Manhattan, and that Manhattan night life eats extra large, crass women for breakfast.

A horribly, pathetic, failed attempt at re-creating "Sex and the City" for boring millenial women everywhere, this movie is the type that makes very, very naive and, sadly, deluded young women from small towns move to NYC and post laughable craigslist ads such as "Wanted: 1 bedroom apt. Max budget $500." This type of movie is responsible for NYC's young homeless population. Stop making this stupid movie. Thanks!