This is sort of like _Friends_ with an indie DIY twist. It's about as shallow when it comes to exploring the social lives of people in their twenties. Maybe this was specifically made for that audience in the 90s, because I don't find that much to connect with. The characters and plot are beyond generic, nor do I think it's all that funny. You already feel that corny stamp Crowe typically puts on his movies in the acting and dialogue, though it's not as excruciating here as it'd become later on. The style is mostly bland besides a few of those DIY touches being carried over from other indie films around the same time. It has a few moments of satire regarding the 90s Seattle music scene, which is where the movie briefly pops in its writing and style (probably because Matt Dillon plays a more interesting character than the leads). Still, I think there's something inherently wrong about the use of grunge here. Obviously it makes some sense given the time and place, and I loved the AIC/Soundgarden cameos, but doesn't its inclusion feel a little at odds with the ethos of the genre? It works for a movie exploring a weirdo outsider like Batman, however to me it's completely out of place in this tame slice-of-life rom-com. I kept expecting for it to go in a darker, more mature direction at some point, and it never really does. I probably should've known better given who's in the director's chair, because this is utterly disposable fluff. A watchable nothing movie.

4/10