Today’s quick review: The Reality of Love. Ten years after moving to Los Angeles, Ryan Banks (Jason Priestley) has become an A-list actor, and his best friend Todd Doherty (Bradley Cooper) is his manager. When Ryan’s romantic dalliances threaten to tank his career, Todd pitches a reality show where fifteen women compete for Ryan’s hand in marriage. But complications arise when Todd falls for Charlie Morton (Emma Caulfield), the front-runner.
The Reality of Love is a romantic comedy about a love triangle on the set of a reality television show. Bradley Cooper stars as Todd Doherty, an honest and hard-working manager who’s responsible for his best friend’s meteoric success. Emma Caulfield co-stars as Charlie Morton, a down-to-earth Bostonian who hits it off with Todd while competing to marry Ryan. A formulaic but competent story makes The Reality of Love an enjoyable watch.
The Reality of Love is a classic love triangle, with all the light flirting and low-stakes drama one would expect. Nearly every aspect of the movie is innocuous and forgettable, with no major missteps but no major changes to the formula. The saving grace of the movie is the chemistry between Cooper and Caulfield. The charisma of the actors and their easy conversations together give The Reality of Love the emotional core it needs to succeed.
The other notable feature of The Reality of Love is its reality show premise. The movie never gets too incisive with its commentary, but it does take some shots at the artificial nature of the medium, showing all the effort that goes into staging situations that are supposed to be real. The show also works well as a plot device, although the movie never gets serious about either engaging with Charlie’s competition or exploiting the show for jokes.
The Reality of Love is a fine pick for viewers who are in the mood for something pleasant and harmless. Two well-matched leads and a unique setting give the movie just what it needs to succeed. However, its generic story and lack of ambition mean that it won’t leave a lasting impression. Try it if you enjoy the genre, but steer clear if you’re looking to be impressed.
For a dedicated comedy about a pair of friends who find stardom, try Wayne’s World. For a science fiction comedy that explores the artificiality of celebrity, try S1m0ne. For a sprawling romantic comedy that has a similar tone but more memorable writing, try Love Actually.
[6.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385013/). I give it a 6.5 for a sweet story with mixed execution.