How to Deal (2003)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Clare Kilner

Writers (WGA):

Sarah Dessen (novels)
Neena Beber (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 July 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Rule #1 There are no rules.

Plot:

A teenager (Moore), disillusioned by too many examples of love gone wrong, refuses to believe that true love exists. Then this new guy (Ford) comes along...

Plot Keywords:

High School | Wedding | Dance | Mother Daughter Relationship | Bride

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 17	12:00 PM	OXYGEN
Mon. July 20	1:00 AM	OXYGEN

Cast

Mandy Moore	...	Halley Martin
Allison Janney	...	Lydia Martin
Trent Ford	...	Macon Forrester
Alexandra Holden	...	Scarlett Smith
Dylan Baker	...	Steve Beckwith
Nina Foch	...	Grandma Halley
Mackenzie Astin	...	Lewis Warsher
Connie Ray	...	Marion Smith
Mary Catherine Garrison	...	Ashley Martin
Sonja Smits	...	Carol Warsher
Laura Catalano	...	Lorna Queen
Ray Kahnert	...	Donald Sherwood
Andrew Gillies	...	Buck Warsher
John White	...	Michael Sherwood
Alison MacLeod	...	Sharon Sherwood

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, drug material, language and some thematic elements.

Runtime:

Philippines:99 min | USA:101 min | Argentina:102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Brazil:12 | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39293) | Australia:M | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Birchmount Collegiate, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

Last cinema film of Nina Foch.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lydia is in the kitchen ranting about her ex-husband, she is chopping carrots. The shot cuts away then cuts back to show her chopping the top off a zucchini. But, when the scene cuts away and back again, she is chopping the carrots again.

Quotes:

Macon: Dun, Dun, Dun. Stand back. Leaf man to the rescue.
Halley: Where did you get that?
Macon: Well you know a guy's gotta pay for gas and bacon burgers somehow right?
Halley: And toys because I imagine star wars figurines must get pretty expensive.
Macon: I do not have any star wars figurines... well... not many. And I don't play with them... much

Movie Connections:

References Sixteen Candles (1984)

Soundtrack:

Do You Realize?

Bad Rap, Cute Film

*Don't worry, No spoilers!* I loved this movie. Of course when I saw it I wasn't expecting anything really life changing, so you shouldn't either. It is just a fun film that is perfect for a teenage audience. I couldn't believe it was on the $5.50 rack at Walmart! If you're not into teen dramas then I don't recommend this film, but if thats your bag then go for it! It reminded me of the movie "Saved!" mixed with a little bit of "Say Anything". Trent Ford is unbelievably cute in it, which led me to renting the film "Deeply" which is also a very romantic movie. I do recommend you to keep a box of tissues on hand, I cried like a baby at one point. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!