Alexandra Holden, Allison Janney, Connie Ray

Teen idol Mandy Moore (A Walk to Remember) learns how to deal with an awful lot--How to Deal crams divorce, teen pregnancy, a wedding, a car accident, and a pot-smoking grandmother into ...( read more  read more... )a single year in the life of Halley Martin (Moore). Halley's so resentful of her parents' divorce (and her father's impending remarriage) that she resolves not to fall in love--so of course a hunky guy named Macon (Trent Ford) decides that she's the girl for him and woos her with gentle persistence. Two things save all of this from being a teenage soap opera: First, a refreshingly realistic (though not explicit) and unjudgmental look at teenage sex; second, a sterling supporting cast, including Allison Janney (The West Wing), Peter Gallagher (sex, lies, and videotape), and Dylan Baker (Happiness), alongside pleasant young actors like Alexandra Holden (Sugar and Spice). --Bret Fetzer

Flixster Users

67% liked it

12,033 ratings

Critics

29% liked it

91 critics

PG-13, 101 min.

Directed by: Clare Kilner

Release Date: July 18, 2003

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DVD Release Date: June 1, 2004

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Stats: 1,692 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,692)


  • August 26, 2007
    Standard film, mediocre, nothing further, worth one watch or two.
  • August 5, 2007
    Loved it. It was really good and funny.
  • June 25, 2007
    I know I saw it but I cannot remember it, that says a lot.
  • December 31, 2006
    Pretty good Flick.
  • October 17, 2006
    Cute.
  • October 21, 2009
    The problem is learning 'How to Deal" with mandy Moore and her problem with trying to overact, and how she can nver bring that emotion required for that specific scene.
  • September 4, 2009
    A teenager (Moore), disillusioned by too many examples of love gone wrong, refuses to believe that true love exists. Then this new guy (Ford) comes along...
  • August 8, 2009
    it seems interesting
  • August 4, 2009
    ooooh look at him, hes got shaggy hair AND a wife-beater! hes a bad boy aint he!
  • July 8, 2009
    this is one of the greatest movies in the history of movies! :P

Critic Reviews


July 31, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

The pop diva goes down with the bubbles in this hopelessly shallow soap opera. full review

July 19, 2003
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

After a while the bad lighting, graceless editing, sluggish dialogue and self-conscious performances begin to seem like marks of authenticity, as if the movie had been made not just for and about teen... full review

July 19, 2003
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Painless to watch, but it's marred by some significant flaws. full review

July 18, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It's too heavy on issues and too light on just observing the characters and enjoying their freshness. full review

July 17, 2003
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Moore and Ford rise above the hackneyed story, infusing the proceedings with their own chemistry and appeal. If only the adults responsible for this film could learn how to deal. full review

View more How to Deal reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • anaalana1
    November 1, 2009
    Thanks
    I've found... itis Wild World .
    Thanks Again
  • anaalana1
    October 27, 2009
    Hello ...

    The movie is wonderful ...
    there is a song for the singer Cat Stevens ... What is the name song , please help?
  • PunkRockstar876
    June 27, 2008
    I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • niciolson1
    April 13, 2007
    This movie is great....very educative....the couple looks so hot together, especially the guy....
  • kaylaprest
    December 8, 2006
    Love this movie! The only reason I even knew about it, is because I went to my favorite authers site, and it turns out she based Someone Like You on it, which was orgininally based off of her other two books, which gets mighty confusing when you've read all of Sarah Dessen's books. Just watch it, its so awesome. But don't read her books before hand, you can predict the whole movie, and go THATS NOT RIGHT...other than that, LOOVE IT!
  • valofan
    September 24, 2006
    This movie is awesome and the main guy is really HOT!!!
    One of my personal favorites and way better than the last movie I commented on wich by the way was "The Wicker Man"

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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How to Deal Trivia


  • What movie stars Mandy Moore as a teenager that doesn't beleve in love?  Answer »
  • In what movie did Mandy Moore fall in love with a guy named Macon, have her sister and her father get married, and her best friend get pregnant?  Answer »
  • In which movie did the actress Mandy Moore hate love and her friend was pregnant?  Answer »
  • What movies has Jessica Biel NOT been in?  Answer »

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