Being not-so-single at the How To Be Single premiere
As expected, Valentine's Day came and went like any other weekend. I went to a Valentine's Bottomless Brunch on the Saturday. On the 14th I was rolled in a duvet like crispy duck in a pancake, eating take away in bed watching Amazon Prime. But other than flakes of seaweed, which keep reappearing in my carpet, the memories of Valentine's Day have disappeared pretty quickly.
I like to think of myself as romantic although I doubt anyone's used the word to describe me. I'm not the kind of girl who loves a soppy, rom-com (unless I'm hormonal). The leading ladies are often as weak as the storyline. Their male counterparts always get lines and the laughs, but I knew this wouldn't be a problem with a Rebel Wilson film.
I was lucky enough to attend the premiere of How To Be Single with my other half, walking just meters away from its fabulous female cast; Leslie Mann, Dakota Johnson, Alison Brie and, of course, Rebel on the pink carpet. After we were nicely warmed up with champagne and canapés, the cast and crew treated us to an introduction to the film (and, yes, Rebel is just as funny without a script).
Posing on the pink carpet - Instagram @francesca_ny
In the first five minutes you know this isn't the run of the mill "chick-flick". It's easy to draw similarities to "Sex and The City", "Friends" and a little bit of "Eat, Pray, Love" in terms of the location, characters. They even drop a few familiar references, but this film is a leap ahead of other films in its genre.
As Rebel Wilson has said in previous interviews, comedy "has been a boys club". But Rebel and Leslie Mann are carving the way for more exciting female roles in Hollywood. Her character, Robin, is a sexually adventurous, functioning alcoholic. Her poker-faced humour is simply genius. It's refreshing that the most sexually liberated character isn't super slim. And, as much as I love "Pitch Perfect's" Fat Amy, I loved that Robin's weight wasn't used a punch-line. She looks fantastic, after all, and we should all admire how comfortable she is in her own skin. Leslie Mann is a great actress and comedian a totally different way. She's been doing it so very well for years without the recognition she truly deserves.
Don't get me wrong, the film isn't perfect, but I came to laugh and that's exactly what I got. You can pick out flaws with the characters and parts of the plot, but I giggled throughout (and so did the rest of the auditorium). Everyone can relate to the dating dilemmas, most notably the ones about text etiquette - Emojis really are a deal-breaker when used too soon. Dakota's character edges on being a little submissive, but her character redeems herself with the self-reflective ending.
Despite what the title suggests, this is no bible to being single, but you won't leave the cinema feeling lonely. There are a few moments which will tug at your heartstrings, but you'll mainly be crying from laughter. Please can Rebel Wilson take/make a leading Hollywood role soon!?
How To Be Single is out in the UK now. I highly recommend going with a group of friends. Ideally with a bottle of wine.
Former cast mate, Jamie, also does a funny little feature in his Happy Hour which is well worth checking out: