The Right Kind of Wrong is oddly likeable for a relatively generic romantic comedy. Chalk it up to an unexpected naughty streak and the charms of its principle cast. Like many of its kind — there are enough failed writer romances to constitute a subgenre at this point — Jeremiah S. Chechik's first film since The Avengers (obviously not Marvel's, the one where Sean Connery dresses in a pink bear suit) isn't half as clever as it thinks it is, but it's sincere enough to forgive many of its flaws.
Not so coincidentally, that's the basic theme of the movie: the key to happiness is finding someone to whom your annoying habits are endearing. Nothing impenetrable about it — even the symbolism of a rare "ghost bear" spotted by our indefatigable, socially clumsy Romeo is explained repeatedly.
Said suitor is the unfortunately named Leo Palomino (Ryan Kwanten, True Blood) and his seemingly insurmountable goal is the affection of a woman he falls for on the day of her wedding. Still licking his wounds from his high profile divorce — his ex (Kristen Hager) got famous writing a blog about how he sucks; his blowback fame is less flattering, but results in a great deal of empty pity sex — Leo impulsively crashes the special day of a lady he spots from across the street booting a football while wearing her wedding gown. And he's brash enough to hit on her at the reception.
This and his subsequent stalking of the object of his obsession, Colette (Sara Canning, The Vampire Diaries), are played as romantic gestures. An endorsement from the bride's sassy mother (Catherine O'Hara) also helps assuage the creepy factor. Of course, none of this would be acceptable if Colette's fresh husband wasn't a secret douchebag. And, oh, is he ever, but he isn't a manipulative, cheating dirt bag like Glenn Guglia in The Wedding Singer.
Danny (Ryan McPartlin) is a privileged, white American male who has always gotten exactly what he wanted and when threatened, he simply does what's within his ability and sphere of knowledge in order to protect what he sees as his. Being an asshole comes naturally to people with power — like everything else in the movie, the message is clear, though respect for both sides of each argument is feigned regularly.
Side characters that support the central theme of finding a mate screwed up in a way that's right for you — Neil (Will Sasso) and Jill (Jennifer Baxter) are one of those icky, endearing couples that have no shame when it comes to PDAs, while Leo's adorably ugly cat couple, Snow and Balls, are impossible not to chuckle over — fit the film's tone much better than a couple of precocious Indian kids dropping drug slang for no reason other than plot convenience and because somebody thought it'd be cute.
The Right Kind of Wrong isn't a divisive laugh riot, although, no matter your tastes, it's so generally affable, moderately self-aware and just risqué enough that it's hard not to be at least a little amused by. However, it could be just the right comforting dose of cinematic chicken soup for a day when excessive brainpower expenditure is too much effort.
(eOne)Not so coincidentally, that's the basic theme of the movie: the key to happiness is finding someone to whom your annoying habits are endearing. Nothing impenetrable about it — even the symbolism of a rare "ghost bear" spotted by our indefatigable, socially clumsy Romeo is explained repeatedly.
Said suitor is the unfortunately named Leo Palomino (Ryan Kwanten, True Blood) and his seemingly insurmountable goal is the affection of a woman he falls for on the day of her wedding. Still licking his wounds from his high profile divorce — his ex (Kristen Hager) got famous writing a blog about how he sucks; his blowback fame is less flattering, but results in a great deal of empty pity sex — Leo impulsively crashes the special day of a lady he spots from across the street booting a football while wearing her wedding gown. And he's brash enough to hit on her at the reception.
This and his subsequent stalking of the object of his obsession, Colette (Sara Canning, The Vampire Diaries), are played as romantic gestures. An endorsement from the bride's sassy mother (Catherine O'Hara) also helps assuage the creepy factor. Of course, none of this would be acceptable if Colette's fresh husband wasn't a secret douchebag. And, oh, is he ever, but he isn't a manipulative, cheating dirt bag like Glenn Guglia in The Wedding Singer.
Danny (Ryan McPartlin) is a privileged, white American male who has always gotten exactly what he wanted and when threatened, he simply does what's within his ability and sphere of knowledge in order to protect what he sees as his. Being an asshole comes naturally to people with power — like everything else in the movie, the message is clear, though respect for both sides of each argument is feigned regularly.
Side characters that support the central theme of finding a mate screwed up in a way that's right for you — Neil (Will Sasso) and Jill (Jennifer Baxter) are one of those icky, endearing couples that have no shame when it comes to PDAs, while Leo's adorably ugly cat couple, Snow and Balls, are impossible not to chuckle over — fit the film's tone much better than a couple of precocious Indian kids dropping drug slang for no reason other than plot convenience and because somebody thought it'd be cute.
The Right Kind of Wrong isn't a divisive laugh riot, although, no matter your tastes, it's so generally affable, moderately self-aware and just risqué enough that it's hard not to be at least a little amused by. However, it could be just the right comforting dose of cinematic chicken soup for a day when excessive brainpower expenditure is too much effort.
