A Novel Romance (2011)

0% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(29 ratings)

Nate Shepherd, late 40's, and Jenny Sparks, early 30's, meet in a fancy New York eatery. Complete strangers who have had a rotten day, waiting for their better halves, they reveal to one another that they are going to meet new people tonight. They quickly realize they are waiting for each other.… More Nate Shepherd, late 40's, and Jenny Sparks, early 30's, meet in a fancy New York eatery. Complete strangers who have had a rotten day, waiting for their better halves, they reveal to one another that they are going to meet new people tonight. They quickly realize they are waiting for each other. When Nate loses his girlfriend (after getting fired from his cushy job at an ad agency) and Jenny loses her boyfriend to a drug overdose, Nate's girlfriend suggests that they should move in together as friends to split the rent and ease each others pain. As their friendship grows into something more, their relationship becomes a loving but complicated experience.

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Allie Dvorin
Written By: Allie Dvorin
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 11, 2011 Limited

Critic Reviews

Kyle Smith, New York Post
"A Novel Romance" supplies a response to the question, "Is Steve Guttenberg still working?" but leaves unanswered the natural follow-up: "Why?"
Neil Genzlinger, New York Times
Steve Guttenberg is probably supposed to be a lovable loser in "A Novel Romance," a drab, clumsy film by Allie Dvorin, but he can manage to be merely annoying.
Ronnie Scheib, Variety
The literary conceit [adds] tired self-deprecating narration and arch chapter titles to the romantic-comedy mix.
Nick Schager, Village Voice
Cohabitation "commandments" and talk of "chick flicks" further send the material into a cutesy tailspin, with the script's low point an egregious scene featuring Nate sneaking a peek at a silhouette of Jenny undressing behind a curtain.
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
The film looks good, at least. But look past that, and there's not much there.
Kalvin Henely, Slant Magazine
As a showcase for Steve Guttenberg's 52-years-young pecs, A Novel Romance might have been better served as a workout video.