It was fun to see Thora Birch and Chris Klein back in action in this Portland-based rom-com. Birch's smart, self-assured acting style is a nice complement to Klein's natural good-guy vibe.
The sight gag where Lauren trips and drops out frame just after meeting Calvin, leaving her umbrella suspended in mid-air, is a fun piece of camera work and helps to set the light, goofy tone of the film.
The PIG Theory (Point of Infidelity and Guilt) is cynical and clearly rooted in more than just numbers, so Calvin has his work cut out for him when tasked by Gena to intervene in Lauren's career path. Their chemistry is immediate, they soon strike a bargain, and shenanigans ensue.
Some of the supporting characters add real spark and depth, including a radiant Claire Coffee as Lauren's long-suffering and protective sister Gena, Kelsey Tucker as amusingly harried have-it-all career mom Sharon, and the scene-stealing David Blue as Jacob.
The central contest of the film is pretty mean-spirited, but of course you know Calvin and Lauren will learn some important life lessons and things will work out for them in the end. You can't boil everything down to a scientific formula.
Review of The Competition
