Can a romantic comedy actually subvert the genre while still playing by its rules?
In short: The 2016 film How to Be Single follows a group of New York women navigating life without partners. While it attempts to offer a fresh, feminist take on the rom-com, critics remain divided on whether it successfully breaks the mold or simply retreats into the same old tired conventions.
Directed by Christian Ditter and based on the 2008 novel by Liz Tuccillo, the film centers on Alice, played by Dakota Johnson, who moves to New York City to redefine her life after a breakup. Alongside her sister Meg and friend Robin, Alice explores various approaches to being single. The narrative weaves together the lives of several characters, including Tom, a bartender who embraces a bachelor lifestyle, and Lucy, who uses dating algorithms to hunt for a soulmate. The film attempts to avoid punishing its female characters for their sexual autonomy, a departure from some traditional genre tropes.
Despite these intentions, the critical reception was mixed. With a 45% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 51/100 score on Metacritic, reviewers struggled to pin down the film's identity. Some, like Richard Roeper, praised the supporting cast and script, while others, such as Peter Bradshaw, dismissed it as feeling algorithmically constructed. Critics often pointed to a tension between the film's desire to subvert romantic comedy expectations and its tendency to rely on the very genre conventions it aimed to challenge.
The production journey was long, with rights purchased in 2008 and Drew Barrymore initially attached to direct before Christian Ditter took over in 2013. Upon its February 2016 release, the film grossed $112.3 million worldwide against a $38 million budget. While it faced stiff competition at the box office from blockbusters like Deadpool, it ultimately found an audience that appreciated its messier, more realistic look at modern independence. The film concludes with Alice finding fulfillment not in a partner, but in a long-held personal dream: watching the sunrise at the Grand Canyon alone.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to Be Single
- Also: How to Be Single
- Also: Wikidata — How to Be Single · CC0
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