'Funny Thing About Love' lacks charm, humor

TUCSON, Ariz. — There are galore comic things astir love, but you won't find galore of them successful the soulless romcom "Funny Thing About Love."

A Hallmark-style romanticist drama works champion arsenic a archetypal day movie successful which you don't privation determination to beryllium a second. The movie is disposable on-demand and successful theaters connected Dec. 3.

Shot connected determination successful the Phoenix area, the punchless, aloof communicative stars Summer Bellessa arsenic Samantha, a businesswoman who has her doofus lawyer boyfriend, Bryce (Jason Gray), implicit to her parent's location for the holidays.

Also staying there, oddly, is her ex-boyfriend, Luke (Kevan Moezzi). Luke happens to beryllium a celebrated stand-up comedian who dumped Samantha but is having 2nd thoughts.

The astir notable stars amusement up successful spot roles but person each the champion lines. Jon Heder — Napoleon Dynamite himself — hangs astir arsenic Charlie, Samantha's goofy brother.

The ageless crank Barry Corbin plays Grandpa Joe, a maestro of inappropriate comments astatine the meal table.

Oddly, Bryce is wholly comfy with Luke's beingness and — star-struck — whitethorn beryllium arsenic infatuated with Luke arsenic Samantha.

That subtle plotline mightiness person led to much breathtaking places but is played for cheap, awkward laughs successful the milquetoast tale.

There is simply a cruel borderline to the crippled due to the fact that Bryce is oblivious to the sparks flying betwixt Summer and Luke. The communicative is simply a slow-moving bid wreck of a emotion triangle that's acold much cringe than heartwarming.

The movie abounds with one-percenter problems—Samantha bellyaches implicit the indecision of selling her institution for $1.5 million.

Luke is wary astir whether to support up his standup vocation oregon merchantability retired for a large TV show. It's similar watching radical conflict implicit the prime of which costly vino to order.

There's besides a disconnect due to the fact that the characters and casting don't marque a batch of sense.

Why would a personage clang with his ex's family? Why wasn't Heder — who is acold funnier than Moezzi — formed successful the relation of Luke? Why would Samantha take either of these guys?

"Funny Thing About Love" brings up much questions than it answers and doesn't enactment absorbing capable for you to attraction overmuch astir the answers.

As harmless vacation fluff, it's serviceable, but arsenic Samantha should realize, determination are amended options retired there.

RATING: 1.5 stars retired of 4.

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