How to Date Billy Walsh (2024) Movie Review – Where to Watch Online
Romantic comedies often provide a delightful escape, mixing humor with heartwarming tales of love and relationships. Prime Video’s How to Date Billy Walsh is a new addition to the teen rom-com genre in 2024, aiming to capture hearts with its nostalgic nods to classic high school romance flicks. Directed by Alex Pillai, known for Riverdale and Bridgerton, the film stars Sebastian Croft (Heartstopper), Charithra Chandran (Bridgerton), and Tanner Buchanan (Cobra Kai).
This movie promises lighthearted fun with its portrayal of a teen love triangle, quirky characters, and slapstick humor. In this review, we’ll examine the movie’s plot, performances, and its overall impact. Plus, we’ll help you find where to stream How to Date Billy Walsh online.
Plot Overview
The film revolves around Archie (Sebastian Croft) and Amelia (Charithra Chandran), childhood best friends on the cusp of graduating from high school. Archie has always harbored secret feelings for Amelia but hesitates to tell her. Just when Archie finally builds up the courage to confess his love, a new student, Billy Walsh (Tanner Buchanan), enters the scene, instantly capturing Amelia’s heart.
In typical rom-com fashion, Archie’s jealousy drives him to extreme lengths as he tries to sabotage Amelia’s budding relationship with Billy. From posing as an AI-generated love doctor to giving Amelia terrible romantic advice, Archie’s schemes spiral out of control, threatening his friendship with Amelia and any chances of romance. The movie’s humor is often driven by Archie’s clumsy, slapstick attempts to “win” Amelia back while navigating the pressures of teen life.
Though the storyline isn’t groundbreaking, the film finds strength in its performances and the chemistry between its leads.
Performance Review
Sebastian Croft as Archie
Sebastian Croft brings a palpable energy to the role of Archie, the quirky, awkward, yet endearing protagonist. His portrayal of a lovesick best friend captures the vulnerability of unrequited love. However, Archie’s constant fourth-wall breaking—a technique used heavily throughout the movie—becomes tiresome at times, especially when it feels forced or unnecessary.
Charithra Chandran as Amelia
Charithra Chandran shines as Amelia, a character juggling teenage angst, romance, and grief over her mother’s passing. Amelia’s emotions are well-crafted, and Chandran’s performance adds depth to a somewhat clichéd character. Her chemistry with Croft’s Archie feels authentic, although the film could have done more to explore the deeper aspects of their friendship.
Tanner Buchanan as Billy Walsh
Tanner Buchanan’s Billy Walsh, the film’s titular heartthrob, feels more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out character. He exudes charm and plays the typical good-looking, athletic, yet sensitive love interest. However, the movie doesn’t delve too deeply into his backstory, and his interactions with Amelia come across as surface-level compared to her relationship with Archie.
Themes and Humor
How to Date Billy Walsh aims to be a lighthearted teen rom-com, filled with slapstick humor and whimsical scenes. The constant breaking of the fourth wall, with Archie narrating his misadventures, adds a self-aware and comedic layer, although it’s a technique that doesn’t always land.
The film’s use of slapstick humor, from over-the-top AI app antics to Archie’s attempts to keep Billy and Amelia apart, works in some moments but feels overdone in others. There’s also a lack of emotional depth when it comes to exploring Amelia’s grief, which could have added more weight to the narrative.
While How to Date Billy Walsh doesn’t stray far from the tried-and-true formula of teen rom-coms, it does capture the chaos of adolescence, friendships, and first loves with heart.
Where to Watch How to Date Billy Walsh Online
If you’re excited to catch How to Date Billy Walsh from the comfort of your home, the movie is exclusively available to stream on Prime Video. As of its release in 2024, here are the ways you can watch:
Streaming Services
- Prime Video (Amazon): The movie is available for free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and other regions where the service operates. If you don’t have a subscription, you can sign up for a free trial or subscribe for $14.99 per month.
Rental/Purchase Services
- Amazon Prime Video Rental/Purchase: You can rent or purchase How to Date Billy Walsh on Prime Video if you prefer not to subscribe to the service.
- Apple TV: Apple users can check Apple TV for purchase or rental options.
Conclusion
How to Date Billy Walsh may not reinvent the teen rom-com wheel, but it offers a charming, albeit predictable, journey into adolescent love and friendship. Its cast brings energy and heart to a story that may be familiar but still manages to entertain. While the movie has its flaws, including over-reliance on slapstick humor and underdeveloped supporting characters, it remains an enjoyable watch for fans of lighthearted rom-coms.
If you’re in the mood for a feel-good teen movie with quirky humor, heartwarming moments, and a touch of nostalgia, How to Date Billy Walsh could be just the film for your next movie night.
