My Best Friend's Girl (2008 film)

My Best Friend's Girl
Promotional poster
Directed by	Howard Deutch
Produced by	Guymon Casady Adam Herz Doug Johnson Barry Katz Gregory Lessans Josh Shader Brian Volk-Weiss
Written by	Jordan Cahan
Starring	Dane Cook Kate Hudson Jason Biggs Diora Baird Alec Baldwin Lizzy Caplan
Music by	John Debney
Cinematography	Jack N. Green
Editing by	Seth Flaum
Studio	Lionsgate Terra Firma Films Management 360 Superfinger Entertainment
Distributed by	Lionsgate
Release date(s)	September 19, 2008 (2008-09-19)
Running time	101 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$20 million
Box office	$41,622,502[1]

My Best Friend's Girl is a 2008 romantic comedy film by Howard Deutch and stars Dane Cook, Kate Hudson, Jason Biggs, Diora Baird, Alec Baldwin, and Lizzy Caplan. It was released on September 19, 2008.

Plot

Sherman 'Tank' Turner (Dane Cook) is a help line operator with a hobby. If a guy loses a girl and wants her back, he gets in touch with Tank and pays him to take the girl on a bad date. Throughout the evening Tank inevitably behaves in the most moronic fashion causing the girl to realize that her ex wasn't really such a bad guy after all.

He shares an apartment with his step cousin Dustin (Jason Biggs) who has fallen for his work colleague Alexis (Kate Hudson). Dustin takes Alexis on a date and confesses his love but she insists they remain friends. After the date Dustin explains his situation to Tank who volunteers his services. Dustin initially turns him down but the next day sees Alexis flirting with another co-worker and begs Tank to take Alexis out.

Tank bumps into Alexis and they arrange to go out. He behaves badly all night but Alexis is too drunk to care. When he drops her off she expects him to come in but he resists the temptation out of loyalty to Dustin. Alexis calls Dustin but when they meet she explains that her date with Tank has motivated her to see other men. Dustin sends Alexis roses and an apology poem in Tank's name. Alexis calls Tank at work and berates him for leaving early the previous night.

Tank goes to see Alexis and they end up having casual sex on a regular basis while Dustin begins a series of desperate attempts to stay friends with her. Tank's feelings for Alexis start to grow but after consulting with his father (Alec Baldwin) he has doubts that he is deserving of a serious relationship with her. While attending the wedding of Alexis' sister Rachel (Diora Baird) he realizes that she is one of his previous bad dates. The groom, Josh (Taran Killam), asks Tank to keep quiet about his use of his services. After overhearing Alexis telling Rachel that she has fallen for him Tank's guilt causes him to sabotage their relationship and call Dustin to apologize.

Dustin arrives at the wedding reception and reveals Tank's schemes to Alexis. Tank points out his clients, including the groom, and is punched and thrown out. Alexis, distraught from the fact that she felt used, never wants to see either of them again. Later while talking with Dustin and his father he realizes that he loves Alexis and they encourage him to reconcile with her. He finds her and jogs with her for a few miles, in the attempt to make amends, but Alexis is unmoved.

Three months later, Tank is on a date when Alexis and her roommate Ami (Lizzy Caplan) see him. Alexis walks up to him and throws wine in his face. After engaging in a play argument they kiss. Encouraged by Professor Turner, Dustin gets together with Ami.

Cast

• Dane Cook as Sherman 'Tank' Turner
• Kate Hudson as Alexis
• Jason Biggs as Dustin
• Diora Baird as Rachel, Alexis's sister and one of Tank's bad dates.
• Alec Baldwin as Professor William Turner, Tank's father.
• Lizzy Caplan as Ami, Alexis's best friend and roommate.
• Taran Killam as Josh, Rachel's groom.
• Malcolm Barrett as Dwalu, Tank's friend and colleague from the call center.
• Riki Lindhome as Hilary, a deeply Christian girl.
• Mini Anden as Lizzy, one of Tank's one-night-stands.
• Robert Fennessy, II as the Bartender
• Brad Garret uncredited cameo as angry customer on phone.

Soundtrack

• "Do Me" - Jean Knight
• "You're No Good" - Linda Rondstadt
• "My Best Friend's Girl" - The Cars
• "Love is Like Oxygen" - Sweet
• "99 Red Balloons" - Nena
• "Crimson and Clover" - Tommy James and the Shondells
• "At Last" - Etta James
• "Have a Little Faith in Me" - John Hiatt
• "Save Some" - Glacier Hiking
• "Blue" - Malbec
• "Always Where I Need To Be" - The Kooks
• "Pop That Pussy" - 2 Live Crew
• "Separate Ways" - Teddy Thompson
• "Best Friends Again/I Love You" - John Debney
• "The Man Comes Around" - Johnny Cash

Reception

Critical response

The film was poorly received by critics. As of August 12, 2009, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 15% of critics rated the film positively, with a consensus that "My Best Friend's Girl spends too much time being vulgar and offensive, leaving little room for laughs."^[2] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 34 out of 100 based on 13 reviews, indicating a generally negative response.^[3]

Box office

The film opened at No. 3 at the North American box office making $8,265,357 USD in its opening weekend.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "My Best Friend's Girl". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mybestfriendsgirl.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-26. 
2. ^ "My Best Friend's Girl Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10008611-my_best_friends_girl/. Retrieved 2008-10-12. 
3. ^ "My Best Friend's Girl (2008): Reviews". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/mybestfriendsgirl?q=my%20best%20friend%27s%20girl. Retrieved 2008-10-12. 

External links

• Official website
• My Best Friend's Girl at the Internet Movie Database
• My Best Friend's Girl at AllRovi
• My Best Friend's Girl at Rotten Tomatoes