WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER?

US, 2011, 106 minutes, Colour.
Anna Faris, Chris Evans, Ari Graynor, Blythe Danner, Ed Begley Jr, Martin Freeman, Anthony Mackie, Zachary Quinto, Mike Vogel, Thomas Lennon, Joel Mc Hale.
Directed by Mark Mylod.

When Anna Farris, as Ally Darling (what’s in a name!) mentions an article in Marie Clare which tests young women on how many sexual partners they have had, we suspect that this film is the equivalent of this kind of magazine article, partly prurient, partly sensationalised, probably (because this is an American film), partly moralising by the end. And it is. It is the kind of thing that during the week tabloid newspapers might disapprove of, especially if they are reporting current events and behaviour, wagging their morally superior finger at less than moral behaviour – and then fill their weekend sections or magazines with several of these stories, often with salaciously inviting titles.

So, Ally tots up her lovers and is shocked to find that her sister and friends are well below the recommended limit before someone is judged to have gone over the top (twenty according to Marie Clare for those who are not going to see What’s Your Number?). The statistic means that the next partner for Ally has to be the final one – or to contact each previous candidate and see if till death do us part can be with him. Needless to say, this involves a lot of embarrassing moments with some character actors, including Martin Freeman, Anthony Mackie, Zachary Quinto.

Meanwhile, across the hallway is the rather cavalierly promiscuous Colin (Chris Evans) whom Ally asks to help her find the twenty. Well, you know the rest... but not how it all gets to that final clinch.

One of the troubles with the film is that Anna Farris is very good at portraying and sending up the dumb blonde image which she does here (Scary Movies, House Bunny...). She does some really dumb things here. And, that does not make her character a particularly likeable woman who deserves a solid chance in life. And if Mr Right came along, her life has not indicated that she would become Mrs Right. Nor does Colin’s story impress that he would commit forever. So that when they do, it is not very credible at all.

So, while we are taken on self-indulgent side trips, when we arrive at the final destination for Ally and Colin, we are not sure whether we believe that this could be the final destination .
1. A variation on the American romantic comedy? Love, relationships, casual sex, learning lessons? How good an example of this kind of ultimately moralising romantic comedy?

2. The New York settings, apartments, restaurants, workplaces? The wealthy background, mansions? The unreality/reality of the settings and the screenplay?

3. Anna Faris as a comedian? Suited to this role? Her stupid behaviour? Lack of appeal? The credibility of her being the heroine? Coming to some kind of maturity – or not? The comparison with Chris Evans as the neighbour, callow, relationships, his music, his work, helping Ally? Ultimately being able to commit himself for life – or not? The credibility of the film with the characterisation of the central characters?

4. The title, the Marie Claire magazine article? The focus on relationships, partners? The twenty? Ally and her reading it? Her twenty? Presumptions? Checking with her sister and her friends, the results, her embarrassment?

5. Ally’s crisis, finding one of the twenty to marry? Not relating to twenty-one? The idea of finding all her past partners? Engaging Colin’s help?

6. The variety of partners, the guest roles – Zachary Quinto as Rick and his escape? Martin Freeman as British and her terrible impersonations of the British accent? The range of other characters? Sympathetic, unsympathetic? The gynaecologist? The man with his fiancée and dreading her approach, invading his house? The credibility of these past relationships – or designed for comedy?

7. Colin, the women, coming into Ally’s apartment, her saving him, his saving her? Especially from Roger the boss? His agreeing to help? The quest, finding the partners? His not finding the wealthy partner? Ultimately giving in? His feelings? His music?

8. Ally’s sister, preparations for her wedding, the parties and toasts, Ally putting her foot in it? Her sister and common sense? Her fiancé? The build-up to the wedding? Her support of her sister?

9. Their mother, society, wealth, ambitions? Separation from her husband? Not wanting to go to the wedding if he came? Her continual criticism of Ally, praising of Daisy? Her thinking that Ally was going to become engaged to the wealthy young man? Feting him? The wedding, Ally changing her mind, her mother’s dismay? Her father coming, genial, supportive, his girlfriend?

10. Ally and her girlfriends, their chatter, their background, amoral approach to relationship?

11. The rich young man, the memories of Ally, their being together, in society, the hopes for engagement? The break-up at the wedding, his getting the huff and leaving?

12. Ally, the good advice to be herself? The wedding planner, the information – getting in the taxis, going from wedding to wedding, intruding? Finally finding Colin and his band? Her going on stage, singing?

13. The reconciliation with Colin – the information about one of the twenty? Colin being number twenty? The happy ending?

14. The blend of the permissive approach, attitudes towards promiscuity? The ultimate moralising and the focus on commitment?