First, you can change the style of your clothes, but not the actuality within. You can want to be popular, but there’s no rule to attaining it. The people who get swayed in wanting to please others most often, please none, and end up being alone; the only difference being that in this case, the character of Tommy Fielding played by Scott Porter is a clear case of nature versus nurture and who vanquishes is what you will have to figure when you watch the motion picture.

Second, the laws of attraction follow their own path. No external prod or pressure could add or diminish it when it sets its heart on what it wants. This is what Daniel Seaver (Bryan Greenberg), a formal avionics engineer, the man who is misused for his goodness, and allows people to do so because he knows who he is and doesn’t really need the approval of others for him to etch an image of his own self. I adore the method in which he shows us all a way of life by merely being himself. His character is strong, smart, attractive and infectious. He portrays a perfect gentleman, difference only that he is not in a suit but in tees and jeans. The fact also that he is slightly nervous around women is a bonus because any man, who is genuine, would be. I reckon that many might not identify with him, but guys like him who are slow and steady, are the guys who finally get to where they need to get. Unfortunately, the ones who assume themselves to be smart and gods gift to mankind do not realise that mankind has moved on, and it is ultimately the man with values and some chivalry who gets the woman who is entitled to him.

Third, I don’t understand the inimical American romance with the word ‘fuck’. There are various ways to emphasise on matters of concern than adding that, ‘Fuck!’ - ‘Fucking!’ preceding every other word in every sentence. It spoils even the finest work by the indiscretions of wanting to be, in another American classic word ‘cool’.

Tommy is supposedly made out to be suave, but remotely. Despite his streaks of genuineness, I thought him predictable and stupid. When someone thinks they are indispensible then sadly it is just the beginning of their downfall I suppose.  

Beth Vest (Alexis Bledel) is a sweet, Manhattan bred young woman. Despite her reserved demeanour, she is someone with varied interests. She loves books and has a fine group of unfeigned and sometimes over-enthusiastic friends who meet to discuss everything from politics to Lolita. She loves travelling and treasures the meaningful aspects of life rather than the flake that Tommy’s world so easily consists of. She’s not a stunner in terms of oomph but comfortable to watch nonetheless. The honesty she lends to the character actually adds to the realism merited by the role.  

Sex is the best comforter when in emotional pain, and I was glad Daniel and Beth take their relationship to the next level with charm and rather organically, while at the same time it is deplorable how Tommy uses sex as nothing less than an ego boost. If you ask me, I’d rather turn asexual than bonking women to make a point. It is guys with empty souls who feed their empty inner selves by trying to be convincing make pure jackasses of themselves.  

Cash, the role of the boss played by Andrew McCarthy is something that I disliked. He is cynical and tactless. His usage of the word ‘fuck’ is annoying and his jokes flat. He barely even contributed to the movie and I wonder why he was written in the first place.

Loved the subtleties though, like the woman whom Tommy was two timing with Beth (the one in the red dress), takes off her heart-shaped necklace to denote that their relationship is over and only if you are careful enough, you’ll notice it, else it will escape your eyes.  

In all, I loved the character of Daniel and Bryan has done a splendid job with it. His lines are gems to absorb and reflect, and reminds me much of what Albert Camus once said; that we only know of one duty, and that is to love. That, in a nutshell, is the essence of The Good Guy.

“I do have the feeling that other writers can’t help you with writing. I’ve gone to writers’ conferences and writers’ sessions and writers’ clinics, and the more I see of them, the more I’m sure it’s the wrong direction. It isn’t the place where you learn to write. I’ve always felt strongly that a writer shouldn’t be engaged with other writers, or with people who make books, or even with people who read them. I think the farther away you get from the literary traffic, the closer you are to sources. I mean, a writer doesn’t really live, he observes.”

Mere colour, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways said Oscar Wilde.

The pictures of the amateur Danish photographer Søren Udby are quite the essence of the above. What’s more, he normally uses only a single light to shoot his portraits, and the results: a definite artistic delight to the human eye.