Benn Farrell Win a Date with
Tad Hamilton (2004)
reviewed by Benn "Where's the Humanity?" Farrell

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This is a cute quirky little romantic comedy with a message of "love is in front of you if you look." Yes, big shock, another romantic comedy about looking for love standing next to you. However, the humor in this one is very well written and gentle, so it doesn't make for such a bad picture.

"Win a Date with Tad Hamilton" is about a girl name Rosalee when she wins a date with famous movie actor Tad Hamilton. Her best friend Pete doesn't like the idea since HE has a huge thing for her and looking for the write time to tell her.

Rosalee and Hamilton go on their date. He tries to sleep with her, but she politely gets out of it. Because of this, he becomes smitten by the first woman to tell him no. Hamilton shows up in Rosalee's backwater West Virginian town, looking to spend time with her, much to the dismay of Pete.

Eventually, all things are revealed, all things are made right, and we have our typical ending for this somewhat typical romantic ha-ha show.

Topher Grace (TV's That 70s Show) makes this picture entirely. He plays a very comical and believable Pete, while Kate Bosworth gives a fine display as Rosalee. Relative newcomer Josh Duhamel (The Picture of Dorian Gray) as Hamilton does a great job capturing the recklessness and concerns of a Hollywood super stud.

Director Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde) has a knack for spotlighting everyday people and their lives in a largely humorous way, but without making fun of them. I appreciated more fun being made at the expense of the Hollywood people, than of the West Virginian people. Luketic kept a good focus that way, allowing the picture's perspective to remain with Pete and Rosalee, and not the hunky Brad Pitt wannabe and his management team.

Other quick laughs come from Nathan Lane (The Birdcage) as Hamilton's agent, and Sean Hayes (TV's Will and Grace) as his manager. My personal favorite walk on performance was from Gary Cole (A Simple Plan) as Rosalee's somewhat overzealous, eager to impress and look hip in front of Hamilton, father.

Despite it being sappy, and NOT breaking any molds in its genre, I thought "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton" was a pleasant surprise with smart, gentle humor in an otherwise cliched storyline i.e. between Pete and Rosalee. I liked it enough to buy it, but I would suggest renting it first and seeing if it's YOUR cup of sappy tea.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?