How to Date Billy Walsh 2024 Movie Review

Rewrite:

Opening Scene: The screen boldly declares, “All is fair in love and war. Fact.” Cut to a disheveled teenage boy racing up the steps of his upscale high school. Despite his suit, he’s a mess, with “Archie’s Bald” scrawled across his forehead and a shaved patch on his head. Inside, the June Ball is in full swing, a formal event marking graduation. He charges towards the stage, only to be tackled by security.

Synopsis: Meet Archie Arnold (played by Sebastian Croft), our protagonist, who unravels the events leading to his current predicament. Archie and Amelia Brown (portrayed by Charithra Chandran) have been inseparable friends since birth, having been mistakenly switched at birth (a lighthearted joke reflecting the film’s tone). Their bond deepened as their parents became close friends. However, Archie harbors unrequited feelings for Amelia.

Flashback to six weeks earlier, Archie plans to confess his love to Amelia at the June Ball. But when the charismatic new student, Billy Walsh (played by Tanner Buchanan), arrives, stealing everyone’s attention with his Top Gun-inspired entrance, Amelia becomes infatuated. Feeling sidelined, Archie concocts a plan to win Amelia’s heart by posing as a Love Doctor.

Archie’s misguided advice to Amelia leads to a disastrous relationship with Billy. Realizing her mistake, she reconciles with Billy but eventually realizes her true feelings for Archie. However, just as she’s about to confess, she discovers Archie’s deception and storms off to the ball.

As Archie rushes to find her, he faces obstacles, including being tied up by jocks. Ultimately, Billy helps him, leading to a climactic moment where Archie declares his love for Amelia amidst a chaotic dance number.

The film attempts to blend elements of classic love triangles, fantasy romance, and farce but struggles to find its footing. Despite talented comedic actors like Nick Frost and Guz Khan, the characters feel underdeveloped. Billy Walsh, in particular, lacks depth beyond his initial introduction.

In the end, the film leaves viewers perplexed by its mishmash of genres and unclear character motivations. While it aims to pay homage to teen movies of the past, it often feels like a jumbled collection of clichés rather than a cohesive narrative.