With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, it’s the perfect time for a romantic comedy! This past year was a big year for movies, but not so much for this genre. However, one film that stands out was released. How to Date Billy Walsh, starring Sebastian Croft, Tanner Buchannan, and Charitha Chandran, streaming on Prime Video is a hidden gem, a perfect mix of all the classic cliches we know and love.
The film is set in London during our main character’s senior year. We begin with a fun school dance scene that is abruptly interrupted by our main character, Archie, an audacious but awkward boy, bursting in, wearing a tattered suit, marker all over his face, and a comical new haircut. He snatches the microphone from the singer on stage and pauses to address the viewer in a classic “You’re probably wondering how I got here” type of moment.
He explains that it is a long story, all started by a mysterious stranger called Billy Walsh and a foiled plan. After seventeen years as friends, Archie finally decides it is time to tell Milly, an ambitious and bright girl, about his undying love for her.
We get a few flashbacks of previous failed attempts stopped by hilarious deterrents like a speeding car and a “fear fart” as Milly would call it. Archie sets his sights on telling Milly during a private screening of their favorite film, Night of the Living Dead. Just as Archie invites Milly out to the theater, a picturesque boy pulls up on a sleek black motorcycle. Just like that, Milly falls head over heels for the stranger (much to Archie’s discontent.)
Billy introduces himself in class and just like that, he has everyone wrapped around his finger. From there, Billy finds his way into Milly and Archie’s day and eventually into their movie date when Milly drops the bomb that she’s in love with him just as Archie is about to confess once and for all. This enrages Archie but he lets her continue to talk about her hopes that Billy will ask her to the year-end ball – something she and Archie had detested in years past.
Milly begins pining after Billy, but much like her best friend, cannot bring herself to just tell him. Archie, heartbroken and still upset, takes his inner rage out on Billy in hilarious asides throughout the film. Milly bravely asks Archie for help and to her surprise, he accepts with a plan of his own.
The movie then follows the story of Archie and his desperate attempts to sabotage Billy and stop Milly from falling any further for him including posing as the mysterious and all-powerful “Love Doctor”. The movie includes multiple characters that pull the full story of Archie and Milly together such as Archie’s eccentric parents and the overenthusiastic Yousef. The film also has a great soundtrack including songs by Dua Lipa, Phoebe Bridgers, and Maisie Peters. The ending is a perfect wrap-up of all events and was very satisfying. Overall, How to Date Billy Walsh is a must watch rom com this Valentine’s Day.
