Boys and Girls

US Release: 16th June 2000

Watched on LoveFilm Instant: Wednesday 12th December 2012

Rating: 12

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama

Runtime: 1hr 34mins

IMDb Plot Synopsis: Jennifer and Ryan are students at UC Berkeley, acquaintances off and on since early adolescence. She's quick, witty, ironic, literary, and independent; he's deliberate, literal, serious, studying structural engineering, always working on a plan. They take walks, they console each other over break-ups, he shares his plans. She's headed for Italy after graduation. Then, to their equal surprise, they spend a night together. Her response is to skitter away from continued intimacy and want to stay friends; he's hurt by her response, so he withdraws. Can it all get sorted out before she leaves town?

A Quick Review: I have seen many early noughties rom-com’s be so modern before now. Despite being only a year or so apart yesterday’s She’s All That and Boys and Girls couldn’t be a more different take on the rom-com. She’s All That is full of cliches and nostalgic fantasy, whereas this film feels much more refreshingly realistic and a film about 21st century relationships where things aren’t so fairytale but based on people, perhaps life-long friends who gradually fall for one another and the obstacles that get in the way. Not only that but it’s funny and sweet too. 

It’s funny as I only really watched this film as I wanted to see some more of Freddie Prinze Jr.’s work and despite being in the same genre he somehow manages to make Ryan in this film much more dorky and loveable.

It may not be anywhere near close to the modern classic’s but Boys and Girls is surprised me at how intriguingly different in tone it was to all the other rom-com’s that have been churned out in the past ten or twenty years or so.

Score: 7/10