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Review by Dustin Putman
2½ stars out of 4
"How to Deal" could be considered a thinking-person's entry into the
teen genre, in that there isn't a bet in sight or a climactic scene
set at the prom. It does, however, give "Terms of Endearment" a run
for its money. Marriage, divorce, pregnancy, death, car accidents--they
all make an appearance in a story that often wavers dangerously close
to feeling overstuffed and contrived, but is saved by a decidedly
smart and accurate portrayal of each subject. Of course, such a thing
may happen when a motion picture is based on two separate novels,
"Someone Like You" and "That Summer," by Sara Dessen. Attempting to
cram two books' worth of plot material into a 100-minute movie is
not a very good idea, but "How to Deal" squeaks by with astute writing
(credited to Neena Beber) and effectively well-rounded performances from its ensemble.
16-year-old Halley Martin (Mandy Moore) has never been in love, and
doesn't much want to be. Having witnessed her parent's divorce, her
dad's (Peter Gallagher) quick recoupling with a much-younger woman,
and her best friend, Scarlett's (Alexandra Holden), suffering after
her beloved boyfriend's sudden death, Halley has become jaded and
cynical on all things romantic. Out to change her ways and help her
to discover that true love is possible is the sincere and handsome
Macon (Trent Ford), a classmate whom she feels connected with. Meanwhile,
Halley's older sister, Ashley (Mary Catherine Garrison), begins making
plans for her own wedding, while her unhappy mother (Allison Janney)
unexpectedly finds a soul mate where she least expects one.
Directed by Clare Kilner, "How to Deal" is a slice-of-life drama more
serious than most of its teen film counterparts. The aforementioned
subjects it deals with are very real ones and handled with a minimum
of mawkishness, even if the sheer amount of them that occur in the
film's timeframe of less than one year is slightly convoluted. The
picture, then, benefits from lacking a simple and frivolous plot that
can be summed up in a sentence.
At its center is a strong and complex lead character who has actual
beliefs and morals that she refuses to compromise for anyone. In only
her second leading role (after 2002's "A Walk to Remember"), singer
Mandy Moore has developed into a mature and natural actress, an undeniably
instinctive talent who could easily have a long and successful film
career if she so wishes. Moore makes the character of Halley her own,
quite a feat for someone who was trained more as a music performer than an acting one.
Giving sharp-eyed support are Allison Janney (2002's "The Hours"),
hitting all the right notes with her usual alternating brand of poignancy
and comic intuition as Halley's mother; Alexandra Holden (2002's "The
Hot Chick"), as Scarlett, making the most of a role than unfortunately
decreases in screentime as the film progresses; the classy Nina Foch
(2002's "Pumpkin"), very funny as Halley's pot-smoking grandmother;
and Mary Catherine Garrison (2002's "Moonlight Mile"), excellent as
Halley's close sister, Ashley. It should also be noted Garrison more
plausibly portrays inebriation with more accuracy than I can remember
seeing outside of a documentary on the subject.
In his first major role, Trent Ford (2001's "Gosford Park") stands
out as Halley's love interest, Macon, precisely because he makes the
viewer feel as if they have known people exactly like him in their
own lives. Ford is good-looking, but not classically handsome; he
is tall and lanky, with too-long hair that is always sweeping over
his eyes. At the same time, he makes a valid attempt to really listen
to Halley, making it easy to see why she would fall for him, and just
as easy to understand why Halley would be hurt when his teenage immaturity
leads him to a bad judgment call. As good as Ford is, it is the love
story between he and Moore that is the weakest subplot in a movie
filled with rich character work. Simply put, this sort of rocky romance
that inevitably ends happily has been seen countless times before,
and carried out with more conviction.
"How to Deal" benefits more often than not by taking the road less
traveled in teen films, where more emphasis is put on the characters
than an easy plot synopsis. Director Clare Kilner refuses to condescend
to her target audience, offering something that adults may be able
to enjoy just as much as teens. Because of this, when the movie makes
a misstep, such as a silly and over-ironic development in the third
act, it is all the more disappointing. "How to Deal" is an ambitious
coming-of-age film, less predictable than most, with a sparkling turn
by Mandy Moore. Unfortunately, as in life, it is far from perfect.
Copyright © 2003 Dustin Putman
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