The romantic comedy genre does well at warming hearts and making one feel very familiar with the content. But “How to Date Billy Walsh,” now streaming on Prime Video, is such a misfire in its execution that it presents the audience with a very formulaic film that simply doesn’t have chemistry or depth to really make it connect.
At the very start of the film, it feels like some easy, light-hearted romance; but soon one realizes that beneath the veneer of charm lies a script far too familiar and not in any way surprising. Helmed by Alex Pillai and strongly influenced by films like “She’s All That” and “John Tucker Must Die,” the movie banks on exhausted cliches, thereby making it tough to look in for something within the characters and their journey.
A Familiar Setup with the Sense of Missed Opportunities
The story revolves around lovelorn teenager Archie, who, for as long as he can remember, has been in love with his best friend, Amelia. As the film opens, Archie has just resolved that his last year of school is going to be the ideal time to declare his love to Amelia. His plans are waylaid by the arrival of the eponymous Billy Walsh, who makes waves in town and instantly becomes the new heartthrob at school, winning Amelia’s attention.
He also narrates the film and constantly breaks the fourth wall, which makes him talk to the audience. Though probably entertaining, this narrative device, in most cases, has the sense of being more of a shortcut to give exposition rather than a clever storytelling technique. This approach often involves telling instead of showing, and hence in the case of the deep friendship of Archie and Amelia, it tells rather than makes the audience experience the depth of their friendship—thereby lacking emotional investment in their relationship.
Underdeveloped Characters and Predictable Plot Lines
The central conflict of this film is Archie’s pursuit to win Amelia while in constant competition against Billy Walsh, who, by all appearances, seems to be perfection personified. The script, though, does very little to develop the characters beyond those surface characteristics. Archie’s schemes—including using an A.I. app disguising him as a “love doctor” to sabotage Amelia’s chances with Billy—seem contrived rather than clever.
Millie, played by Chandran, gets a tragic backstory dealing with her mother’s death, which does add some character to her. But the film doesn’t get into this at all, and Millie’s motivations and equations with other characters are left half-baked. What comes out is that the love angle seems easily forced, with very little or no chemistry between the lead actors.
Even Billy, the object of both Millie’s and Archie’s affections, is reduced to a stereotype—the handsome, mysterious new guy with a troubled past. Being more plot device than character makes it hard to find anyone to root for with these pairings.
A Rom-Com with an Identity Crisis
The problem with the film is it just can’t seem to decide what form it’s going to take. It teeters back and forth between a lighthearted rom-com and meta-commentary on the genre itself but never truly commits. This leaves the audience with something disjointed, scenes that lack either the emotional or comedic punch to make the scene have real impact.
There are these great little moments—like where Archie daydreams about having an “ironic threesome” with Millie and Billy—but then these are pushed to the side for more predictable plot beats. The jokes—like the few awkward fart jokes—are flat and act as a detriment to what really should have been at the center: a more heartfelt story.
Conclusion: A Fresh Take That Falls Flat
In the end, “How to Date Billy Walsh” is almost functioning as a romantic comedy, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark. The over-reliance on worn tropes and thinly developed characters does it no favors in an overly saturated genre. Though it does sport a few redeeming qualities, these are not enough to elevate the whole experience.
While “How to Date Billy Walsh” isn’t going to be the answer to anyone looking for a wholly new spin on the love triangle or just something a bit different in the rom-com department, if you’re looking for something light and pretty predictable, it might do the trick—so long as you don’t expect too much.
Catch “How to Date Billy Walsh” streaming now on Prime Video.
