The F Word (2013)

'Hand gestures means friends'

I love that not once in the film is the other possible word 'friend zoned' ever mentioned, which briefly did give me a wee lantern of hope throughout what could have been a very awkward scene. Daniel Radcliffe plays Wallace who is a normal bloke, but just got his heart broken. He finds himself at a party where he meet Chantry (Zoe Kazan) who he immediately hits it off with, and who admits to him that she never experiences that kind of thing at parties. Unfortunately after he's gallantly followed her home and asked her if they could meet again, she drops the b-word - boyfriend.

Wallace then willingly lets her number go instead of pursuing an actual friendship with Chantry. Since clearly the classic 90's view of - 'men and women' can't be friend is still thriving, though in some ways this one is 'a man who instantly finds a woman attractive and wants to be with her can't be friends with her'. That seems more fitting, but the two accidentally meet again - leading to them having another go - and Chantry even pointing out the sadness of guys not willing to try the friendship thing (if there's no potential sex involved).

You do know where this will lead to at some point, but somehow, I'm a tiny bit disappointed by that. It's not that the film doesn't read up like a classic romantic comedy where you've got the friends who try to back up your pursuit or point out your desperation. They're all there with quirky little side-plots and it all runs smoothly. The style of the film and the acting suits it really well. Besides it has some genuinely real moments - like Chantry and Wallace seeing each other for the second time, but both fixating on their phones instead of having to do the awkward small talk.

I find it kind of curious that there are so few films that do depict the male and female friendship, which are totally functional - as you don't need one of them to be related, gay, married to someone else or in a relationship to keep them apart. Not that this little romantic film isn't cute, but it isn't something refreshing in the hundreds of other films that underline 'men and women can't be friends'. Perhaps I'm just the cranky old lady who is irritated with the fact that no film will ever match up to When Harry Met Sally and that everything else feels like a sad copy.

Despite all of this gnashing of teeth, it's an enjoyable and well-acted little film, which has some basis in reality. Of course it might not appear on any lists or rejuvenate the recycling genre, but it tried with what it had and achieved a cute effort. Adam Driver was the highlight of the film, which has got to be said - though a weird male friend isn't exactly a new thing within the genre either, but he made a memorable character nonetheless.

Also it's difficult to forget a man who is that fond of nachos.

5/10