If it seems like I watch too many TV romances, you may be right. But I also am confident enough to know that watching them makes me happy, and so, I’m cool with this assessment. Our latest is The Dating List, a charming UPtv debut that breaths some new life into the genre.
The Dating List (2020) UPtv Film Review
Landing her dream job is all Abby Morel (Natalie Dreyfuss) can focus on. She’s determined to be the newest junior editor at the prestigious publishing house she’s dreamed of working at for years now. Her would be boss, Susan (Carmel Amit) is a businesswoman through and through, and while she sees a glimmer of promise in the eager Abby, she doesn’t hire her. In the meantime, Abby spontaneously meets Dan (Andrew Dunbar). When they mix up their manuscripts (hers an editing job for a boring manual, and his, a friend’s novel), they meet to switch them back. But not before Abby’s red editor pen goes to work on the novel of Dan’s friend.
Much to her surprise, Abby gets a call back from Susan, only the potential job is a bit unusual. Her task is to find the busy Susan the perfect guy, complete with a list and a group of guys to sift through from Susan’s dating profile. Everything goes well… until, in pursuit of checking off this dating list, things get complicated.
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At first, I don’t think this film is one I had high expectations for based on UPtv’s March and April lineup. Like many of these TV films (of late), this one surprises me. It’s actually quite cute, though it does stumble now and again. The bit where it stumbles is, where most do, in the break-up drama. It really seems unusually overblown, but there’s still some good humor and the characters get the benefit of time passing which always heals.
What’s fun about this one is the script using the heroine to try and find her boss the perfect guy (at the bequest of her boss). This isn’t something I’ve seen done much and it does away with some of the more common tropes by doing this. The cast is quite cute together too. It’s funny to realize that, in the Hallmark film The Nanny Express, Natalie Dreyfuss plays a sullen teen; and Dunbar is no stranger to the TV rom-com. The relationship between Abby and Susan grows into something good, which is nice, and you’ll see Nathan Witte (My Best Friend’s Bouquet) in a co-starring role too.
In the end, like any conclusion of this genre I make, The Dating List is fun and cute. It’s an ideal little movie to enjoy when you want to unplug and unwind. So find a re-air of this one. I think you just may find it enjoyable.
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Photos: UPtv
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