4 August 2013. Romantic comedies are a fascinating genre which typically incorporates some drama along with the comedy. Finding an appealing balance is an essential element of a successful romantic comedy. In love surreal, the driving theme in this movie is "an imaginary friend," and the subsequent issue of mental illness or not along with the pleasant comedic irony that supposedly results throughout the movie. This movie handles the idea of "an imaginary friend" very well avoiding the more serious issue of "craziness" at least with respect to the audience. The main problem with the movie is the "dorkiness" element and unlike Real Genius (1985) has really plays with the idea of nerdiness as cerebral comedy. In Love Surreal, the dumb sidekick seems too unbalanced as a simpleton, turning some of the movie and its tone into a slapstick stereotype that fits uneasily and unnecessarily into the more focused and compelling romantic comedy relational triangle between Abby, Quinn, and Sly.
The addition of the third character (albeit an imaginary one) creates sufficient electricity that another sidekick character is rather overkill especially considering Abby's eccentric parents and complicates the rich comedic simplicity of the rest of the movie. Other more even and successful romantic comedies focus on singular intriguing movie elements such as "magic" in Simply Irresistible (1999), Bewitched (2005), Mannequin (1987); "superpowers" in My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006); "luck" in Just My Luck (2006), Lucky You (2007); "social class" in Maid in Manhattan (2002), Working Girl (1988), Sabrina (1954); sexual identity in Tootsie (1982). Love Surreal for the most part is a fascinating and touching psychological romantic movie that unfolds well with some speed bumps.
The addition of the third character (albeit an imaginary one) creates sufficient electricity that another sidekick character is rather overkill especially considering Abby's eccentric parents and complicates the rich comedic simplicity of the rest of the movie. Other more even and successful romantic comedies focus on singular intriguing movie elements such as "magic" in Simply Irresistible (1999), Bewitched (2005), Mannequin (1987); "superpowers" in My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006); "luck" in Just My Luck (2006), Lucky You (2007); "social class" in Maid in Manhattan (2002), Working Girl (1988), Sabrina (1954); sexual identity in Tootsie (1982). Love Surreal for the most part is a fascinating and touching psychological romantic movie that unfolds well with some speed bumps.