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Rating:  - A charming comedy full of simple truths
The best comedy comes from simple truths about life. `Nice Guys' captures so many of the essential truths about the dating game that, despite its shortcomings, it is extremely entertaining.
Carter (Sean O'Bryan) is a really nice guy. He is such a nice guy that women are dying to be his friend. At least that is what they all tell him at the end of the first date. Maggie (Sybil Temchen) is a New York veterinarian who is starting over in Louisville, Kentucky working on a thoroughbred horse farm. With the dubious guidance of his best friend, Carter asks Maggie for a date, and the fun begins.
The movie is peppered with vignettes about dating and the games the sexes plays. What makes it funny is that it is all so true, and without much exaggeration. There are quite a few good sight gags and liberal guffaws throughout.
This was a low budget independent production written and directed by Stu Pollard in his first attempt at both. The writing was honest and insightful, but uneven. At times, the dialogue was terrific; sharp, biting humor the captured the essence of this absurd ritual called dating. At other times it was gut wrenching drivel. The same was true of the cinematography. He had some beautiful shots of Kentucky, and then other shots were set up all wrong.
The acting was about what you would expect from third tier actors. Sean O'Bryan was nice enough, but so bland that one might suspect that he was boring his dates into friendship. He did exude great sincerity, though which worked very well with his character. Sybil Temchen was the best actor in the film and seemed very confident in her role. She was strong and self-assured in her role as the vet, but confused and uncertain in dating mode.
Overall, this was a pleasant surprise for a film with untested talent and limited resources. I rated it a 7/10. It is a fun movie with something for just about everyone who has ever been on a date as an adult. At some point you may even find yourself saying, "Yeah, that happened to me too."
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