"Dater's Handbook" is a Hallmark Channel romance featuring Meghan Markle, Kristoffer Polaha, Jonathan Scarfe. Markle is a single executive who tries to date different kinds of men from those she has dated in the past (noncommittal "bro" types). The title refers to a self-help book written by a hack who tries to use well-intended snippets like, "look for a guy who puts in effort" to help women have better relationships. The book really doesn't feature much in the story despite the title.
Markle impresses in this role which is better suited to her limits as an actor. I don't get the impression having seen her in "When Sparks Fly," that she has a great range. Here, she is energetic and indecisive about which of the two men she will date exclusively. The story is set in Denver and the setting plays to what we would expect of Markle based on her clothing choices in this film and her real life persona. She is not a person you expect to live in a small town.
Polaha and Scarfe are the two love interests. Each is different enough from the other that the choice between them has meaning. Will Markle pick the poorer man with whom she has more chemistry with or the polite wealthier man she is nervous to be around? Neither man has anything really negative about his personality. Only the first boyfriend Markle has is obviously flawed but even his flaw isn't terrible. He is just a party dude. The main guys get plenty of screen time for us to get to know them. I really liked how Scarfe's job is so hard to describe, he seems to struggle to tell Markle's film-mother what he does for a living.
Markle eventually picks Scarfe I suppose because her sister likes the idea of him better. Their mother likes Polaha more because she feels that Markle is able to be herself around him. Of course, the ending is so predictable this sentence has already spoiled it for you. Getting to the ending is the third act; and, surprisingly, a rare example of emotional depth in a film like this. Markle tries to please her sister and her mother and isn't emotionally honest with herself or her suitors. People behave this way in real life. Relationships are usually not as predictable as Hallmark makes them out to be. That nuance is appreciated. As was the music of REO Speedwagon. Recommended for date night.
Markle impresses in this role which is better suited to her limits as an actor. I don't get the impression having seen her in "When Sparks Fly," that she has a great range. Here, she is energetic and indecisive about which of the two men she will date exclusively. The story is set in Denver and the setting plays to what we would expect of Markle based on her clothing choices in this film and her real life persona. She is not a person you expect to live in a small town.
Polaha and Scarfe are the two love interests. Each is different enough from the other that the choice between them has meaning. Will Markle pick the poorer man with whom she has more chemistry with or the polite wealthier man she is nervous to be around? Neither man has anything really negative about his personality. Only the first boyfriend Markle has is obviously flawed but even his flaw isn't terrible. He is just a party dude. The main guys get plenty of screen time for us to get to know them. I really liked how Scarfe's job is so hard to describe, he seems to struggle to tell Markle's film-mother what he does for a living.
Markle eventually picks Scarfe I suppose because her sister likes the idea of him better. Their mother likes Polaha more because she feels that Markle is able to be herself around him. Of course, the ending is so predictable this sentence has already spoiled it for you. Getting to the ending is the third act; and, surprisingly, a rare example of emotional depth in a film like this. Markle tries to please her sister and her mother and isn't emotionally honest with herself or her suitors. People behave this way in real life. Relationships are usually not as predictable as Hallmark makes them out to be. That nuance is appreciated. As was the music of REO Speedwagon. Recommended for date night.