In the movie Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, wholesome West Virginia girl, Rosalee Futch, attracts Hollywood bad-boy super star Tad Hamilton and encourages him to question his values. But the film is not the story of Rosalee or Tad. It instead belongs to the timid, smitten Pete Monash, who has to helplessly watch Tad sweep Rosalee off her feet.
Director Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde) presents a wish-fulfillment tale for anyone who has ever lusted after a Hollywood celebrity. Rosalee (Kate Bosworth of Rules of Attraction) and her friend -the aptly named, sexually frustrated Cathy Feely (Ginnifer Goodwin of Mona Lisa Smile) - are crazy about movie star Tad Hamilton (Josh Duhamel of the Soap Opera All My Children).
An internet pop-up advertisement announces a contest (a.k.a. PR damage-control for the movie star) to "win a date with Tad Hamilton" much to the shrieking delight of Rosalee and Cathy and disgust of mutual friend Pete Monash (Topher Grace of That 70s Show). Rosalee enters, predictably wins, and is whisked away from her tiny town of Fraziers Bottom to Hollywood for her date. She innocently captures the interest of Tad, who is more accustomed to sycophants and the enchantingly fake world of showbiz. Rosalee's wholesomeness motivates Tad to fly to West Virginia, where he hopes to acquire a little bit of "platonic goodness" himself. Pete, secretly in love with Rosalee, feels entirely inadequate beside Tad and is forced to watch as Tad and Rosalee's romance develops. When Tad gets a movie deal and asks Rosalee to go with him to Los Angeles, Pete finally confesses his love for her, and so begins the classic love triangle, which Rosalee must confront one way or the other.
The characters in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton are cartoons, living in an unbelievable world. Bosworth is sadly annoying, and her girlish shrieks seem forced. Her enthusiasm during her date is not genuine, and she does not captivate viewers with her "excitement." Goodwin does not have enough to do in the film besides recite corny dialogue, which is apparently written by the same individuals who compose steamy women's novels. The brunette, individualistic Cathy at times seems to serve no other purpose than provide a contrast to all-American, cute, blonde Rosalee. However, Goodwin is convincing as the star-struck Cathy, particularly when Tad unexpectedly enters the break room at work and Cathy sprays a bag of chips around the room, before desperately describing her lusty fantasies to him.
Duhamel, on the other hand, brings a transcendent quality to Tad, introducing a certain maturity to the cast. He plays the typical bored "poor rich guy," yet he clearly has fun with his role. Duhamel enters different settings and dominates them, from his small apartment, to a fancy L.A. bar, to the diner in Fraziers Bottom. He arrogantly swaggers through throngs of beautiful fans and knows he is the best.
Grace's Pete provides a striking, human contrast to A-list actor Tad. This is heightened in a montage where clips of Pete singing and making a sandwich at home are juxtaposed with Tad heating a pre-made microwave dinner and collapsing, unsatisfied, on his couch. The small-town Pete is real and accessible, and Grace does an excellent job of portraying the love-struck friend, too shy to say more. He is convincing and elicits sympathy for his pain and fear of rejection, without coming across as downtrodden and pathetic.
The film ultimately asks, "What is true love?" Rosalee and Tad struggle with the concept of loving someone for what they represent. Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, however, is really about Pete, who eventually realizes the importance of being strong and remaining true to his feelings.
Through Pete, the film implicitly communicates the fear and vulnerability involved with completely opening up to another. The true humor lies in the fact that it takes a Hollywood superstar to really prompt Pete to action. However, Pete's anguish is acute, and Grace excellently displays the ache of watching his sweetheart in the arms of someone else.
The jokes in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton are frequently terrible, and the acting and dialogue not always are one hundred percent. Despite being relatively shallow, this comedy reminds viewers that guys can be equally emotional.