There are some things to like in this romantic comedy. It’s simple and cute, with Reilly delivering an endearing performance that recalls some of the genre’s best proponents (in many scenes, she seems like she could be the spiritual successor of Zooey Deschanel or Rachel Bloom, adorkable leading ladies with hidden depths). But too many parts of the film are simply outdated and offputting. The central conflict lies in the fact that Kip is “not like other girls” and too nerdy to be attractive, despite the fact that she is conventionally pretty and actually cool. She has a lot of friends, many of whom are POCs, but they have zero interiority and all revolve around her boy problems. If this film were cut and corrected, I could see it becoming a lighthearted filler episode in a romantic sitcom. As it stands, it just seems like a bland and forgettable entry in the genre. 

I can’t emphasize enough how outdated this film is, but I’ll try. First of all, Kip spews this pick-me nonsense that could’ve passed for feminism if it was 1995: “I know I'm not a real woman. My shoes don't hurt. I like math. I couldn't flirt if I tried. And for me, dressing up means putting on mascara." Then, she writes this up in a blog post (!) that goes viral (!!) and garners 43,000 comments overnight (!!!). Who, in the year 2023, blogs anymore, much less goes viral for it? Between this schitck, wearing polka dots and leggings, and making a successful gay man hide in the closet ‘just cause, I am convinced that this film is a time capsule from another decade masquerading as a product of our times. It’s enjoyable in a camp sort of way, or if you enjoy Hallmark TV movies. But if you’re after a seriously good romcom, you’ll have to keep looking.