‘How To Date Billy Walsh’ Review – A Self-Aware Teen Comedy With Charming & Lovable Leads

While many teen romantic comedies repeat the same tropes and storylines, one comes along occasionally, making the genre’s tropes seem fresh and adding more depth and heart than its predecessors. The British teen romantic comedy, How To Date Billy Walsh, manages to do this by poking fun at itself while also showing how flawed, and thus, how realistic, its teen characters are.

Archie (Sebastian Croft) and Amelia (Charithra Chandran) have been friends since birth. It was inevitable, seeing as they were switched at birth temporarily, leading to their families becoming close. Archie has been by Amelia’s side through it all, like when her mother died, and loves her with every fiber of his being. Amelia is oblivious to the fact and, initially, seems to view him as more of a brother than a potential lover. Archie decides that during their final year of high school, he will confess his feelings to Amelia. The plan goes awry when an American exchange student, the titular Billy Walsh (Tanner Buchanan), arrives on campus sporting a leather jacket and riding a motorcycle. Amelia is smitten and determined to win Billy for herself, leaving poor Archie confused and desperate not to lose her.

How To Date Billy Walsh is entertaining from beginning to end. Croft and Chandran are a kismet pairing, and their sweet, endearing chemistry makes it a joy to watch them on screen together. It’s nice to see Croft, who is widely known for playing the closeted and devious Ben in the first two seasons of the Netflix hit Heartstopper, come into his own as a charming and talented leading man. The wit and humor he brings to Archie make the character lovable, even when he’s trying to sabotage his best friend’s budding relationship. Archie is bold and brave regarding matters of the heart, and you can’t help but root for him.

Chandran is no slouch either when it comes to her portrayal of the sensitive and brilliant Amelia. She manages to evolve the role past a silly, lovesick teenager, giving it heart and relatability that will resonate with viewers. Chandran is undoubtedly a leading lady who deftly balances the serious and comedic elements the role requires. It’s a joy to watch her on screen.

Buchanan doesn’t get much to do here, seeing as Croft and Chandran are the main stars, but he does his best with what he’s given. The film hints at the pathos behind the titular bad boy but doesn’t explore it deeply. It would have been interesting if he had been the third main character focusing on his own home life. Kunal Nayyar, Nick Frost, Guz Khan, Lucy Punch, and Daisy Jelley are a welcome sight elsewhere in the ensemble.

One of the film’s biggest strengths is its knowledge of its predecessors and the way it subtly pokes fun at itself. We’re treated to a school dance where everyone suddenly becomes a skilled dancer and performs a Broadway-worthy musical number out of nowhere. Social media is ever-present and drives many character decisions and mistakes. While Archie’s fourth-wall-breaking narration sometimes slows down the story’s momentum, it’s also a nice touch to keep viewers engaged.

During its last forty minutes, the film makes a wise decision to switch to Amelia’s point of view. In most movies like this, we’d only see Amelia through the rose-colored lenses of the male friend who is hopelessly in love with her. The film takes its time to build her up independently and show how she operates independently of both boys. This allows viewers to see her as flawed and sometimes unlikable. At one point, the film acknowledges that she may be unworthy of Archie or Billy. It’s an exciting direction, and one might find themselves wishing the filmmakers had taken the path less traveled just for the sake of subversion.

My only complaint is the film’s climax. I won’t spoil it here, but the finale is slightly drawn out and could have been trimmed for the sake of pacing. This and the underutilization of Buchanan are the film’s only true missteps.

How To Date Billy Walsh is an entertaining and charming addition to the canon of teen romantic comedies. Croft and Chandran are a charming pair of leads who carry the film well.

How To Date Billy Walsh is available to stream on Amazon Prime. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQHx9ems_I4]