Nice Guy Johnny (2010)

Strong and Moving!

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Load of rubbish!!

Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

I'll preface this by saying I have never seen an Edward Burns film, not for any particular reason, I've just never seen one.After this movie, I doubt I'll bother seeing another.It wasn't a BAD movie, just poorly cast and rather pointless.If this was written by the main actor in order to show that he can act and that he's a viable choice for films, then I could see the point of this movie. Otherwise it's a story that's been told a million times before, completely predictable and cliché.The main actor isn't bad, just poorly cast. He's completely unbelievable as a radio personality or as a romantic lead, he looks and sounds 14.My other minor gripe is that I don't know who this movie is really for. If it's a romance designed to appeal to women, then the main female lead is either poorly written or poorly directed. She's completely uninterested in the guy until he says he has a fiancée, then she's in full on flirt mode, very unappealing.So overall, don't waste your time, unless your a huge Ed Burns fan apparently.

This story is about Johnny. Matt Bush is Johnny Rizzo, a 24-yr-old New Yorker living and working in radio in the San Francisco Bay area. He has a 2AM to 6AM sports talk show, which he loves and is good at, but he also has a 24-yr-old fiancée who wants him to get a job earning more money so they can get married, live comfortably, have kids, the whole package.Her dad back in New York is paying the rent on their apartment. He sets up a job interview for Johnny, it would be working as a supervisor in a company that makes boxes and other containers, something very boring compared to what he loves about his radio talk show. But it also pays very well. So Johnny flies to NYC for the weekend and the Monday interview.Edward Burns, who wrote and directed, is Johnny's Uncle Terry, a relatively dirty middle-aged man who doesn't believe in marriage, and also has no problem romancing a variety of married ladies. He tries to set Johnny up for the weekend, for a "last fling", but really to get him out of his marriage plans.In comes Kerry Bishé as Brooke, former star tennis player in college. She seems interested in Johnny, but he is a "nice guy" and is faithful to his fiancée. However something happens, an intercepted phone call, that gets her to worry. So, what does Johnny do? That is what the movie is about, and other than Uncle Terry being very annoying most of the time, it is a very enjoyable movie.SPOILERS: In the end Johnny does not have the interview, goes back to California determined to keep his low-paying job as a radio talk show host. He and his fiancée have a final discussion, they agree to go their separate ways, which in the end is a good decision for Johnny who would not have been happy giving up what he liked most just to make more money. The movie ends with Brooke as a call-in to his show, she is taking a road trip back to California, in fact she is calling from Napa, and will be a guest on his show to talk college tennis. But they may be more, down the road.

I am a member of the "Team Edward" team (not the one you are thinking). I am referring to those that have always thought that Writer-Director Edward Burns is one of the most talented independent movie filmmakers of our generation. I know that "Team Edward" lacks membership; due to the fact that many critics and filmgoers have not been nice guys and girls to Burns by ridiculing his movies of the last decade. However, I still think Burns is tops when it comes to creating relatable characters going through emotional and romantic turmoil, and using the city of New York as an effective backdrop. Burns' screenplays speak the words of what real people say when they go through trials & tribulations with lovers, family, and friends. In his latest flick "Nice Guy Johnny", Burns still contributes the equivalent witty dialogue of his past independent movies, but the film's premise falls a little short on sheer entertainment value. Matt Bush stars as Johnny, an amateurish sports talk radio host in Oakland who is pressured by his nagging fiancé to go to New York to interview for a cardboard company administrative position against his wishes. Johnny's dream is to excel in the sports radio arts even though his fiancée Claire is not too clairvoyant by not supporting him on his career goals. Johnny does not make the cash flow that Claire is insisting on so therefore she literally ships Johnny to New York to interview for the cardboard position that was hooked up by Claire's domineering father. Johnny, who is originally from New York, gets to visit his parents in the Hamptons in his New York visit; and also meets up with his chauvinistic easy-going Uncle Terry. Terry, played by Burns, is the antithesis of Johnny. He is a womanizing, selfish, and manipulative lothario who has plenty of married female sexual partners who he uses to not only fulfill his sexual craving, but to also borrow their cars & homes at his "free-will". Johnny is initially reluctant to hang with Uncle Terry during his New York stay, but eventually decides to join Terry in a drive to the Hamptons. During their Hamptons stop, Terry introduces Johnny to Brooke; the tennis instructor of one of Terry's married female conquests. Brooke's beauty and bohemian ways attracts Johnny to her, even though he is set on his ways on being faithful to Claire. Will Johnny cheat on Claire? Will Brooke break the faithful tide? Is the cardboard job in the cards for Johnny? Well, you got to spend some time with "Nice Guy Johnny" to find that out. The premise of the movie is not too uncommon in film narratives of the romantic-comedy genre: a controlled dude in a relationship pressured by a self-centered female to bring home the bacon or else she will bail. But the premise is not the nice part of "Nice Guy Johnny"; it is Burns' genuine screenplay that plays a nice part to the story. Even though Burns has played the same scheming character in a few of his past flicks, I still think he was very good in his performance as Uncle Terry. Matt Bush overacted at times with his mediocre starring performance as Johnny, and Kerry Bishe was not OK with her monotone mode in her portrayal of Brooke. It is not one of Burns' best, but "Nice Guy Johnny" is nice enough to check out. **** Good

I enjoyed this movie quite allot, OK it was a bit slow and predictable but it was definitely watch-able.Can't say I was a huge fan of the cinematography however as I did feel like I was watching a reality show sometimes. Just a few of the angles weren't well thought out.Acting was passable, I don't think any of them were bad however the English caretaker was a little unnecessary.Cute story line but it has all been done before. Wouldn't pass it off as comedic at all its more of a mellow romantic drama.I don't think I'd recommend it to anyone but it was good for an afternoon of boredom I suppose.