How to Deal

How to Deal (2003)

  • 28% of critics liked it
    (93 reviews)

  • 63% of users liked it
    (48,004 ratings)

Teen pop star Mandy Moore stars in the romantic comedy How to Deal. Directed by British filmmaker Clare Kilner, the script is based on two of author Sarah Dessen's popular teen novels: Someone Like You and That Summer. Halley (Moore) is a teenager trying to make sense of the faltering romantic… More

Play Trailer

PG-13, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By
Clare Kilner
Genres
Drama, Comedy
In Theaters
Jul 18, 2003 Wide
On DVD
Jun 1, 2004
New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

  • Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

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

  • Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

    I've seen a lot of dumb teen romances in the last couple years, but How to Deal, is a welcome exception.

  • A.O. Scott, 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 teenagers, but by them.

  • Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

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

  • Desson Thomson, Washington Post

    A bad, unimaginative story posing pretentiously as the very opposite.

Read all 17 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Red L


    I guess this is a chick flick, but I enjoyed it. Poor Halley suffers through her parents getting divorced, her best friend getting pregnant, her grandmother moving in - all at the age of 17. Because of all these failed relationships, she decides no love affairs for her, but of… More

  • Jennifer X


    Uhhhh, Mandy Moore is cute with short hair.

  • Rachel F


    Loved it. It was really good and funny.

  • Bobby H


    This movies actually pretty funny for a chick-flick. You've got to love the weed smoking grandma in this. Seriously! It's worth a watch.

  • Leigh R


    Cute.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

See full cast

Trailers & Clips

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