Win a Date With Tad Hamilton went a little like this for me. Unlike most critics who originally entered the theater expecting this movie to suck and then reported quite to their surprise that it didn't suck that much and was surprisingly good - I'm the guy who's read those reviews going into expecting it to be surprisingly good, who wished he'd followed his instincts and waited for it's video release.

The premise of this movie, as you may know concerns a Hollywood hunk who's recently found himself in a bit of tabloid trouble as a result of his Colin Farrell-like clubbing and drunken strumpet-rubbing. Thus his agent and manager (Sean Hayes and Nathan Lane) shift into damage control mode and in an effort to wholesome the handsome young Tad up, (so as not to jeopardize his chances at the kind of roles that bring them handsome paychecks) contrive a little contest. What's the name of this film again?

Meanwhile back in Frazier's Bottom West Virginia (where's the Greaseman when you need him?) young Rosalee Futch (Kate Bosworth) longs to escape the confines of her job at the Piggly Wiggly, even though she enjoys the friendship of her fellow workers
Pete (Topher Grace of "That '70s Show) and Cathy Feely (Ginnifer Goodwin). Actually the film opens with these three amigos watching a chick-flick with Tad Hamilton mopping up the throbs of the young girls hearts from coast to coast, and Pete playing the eye-rolling "what kind of ditzy cheerleader would fall for this phony baloney?" routine.

I think the reason that this film transcends the bounds of it's formulaic plot machinations, mediocre writing and sicky-sweet tendencies is due to it's very engaging cast. Bosworth is adorable and winning as the lucky foil of this propaganda and for his part Duhamel makes the most of this fast opportunity. Dahumel is the sexy lead in TV's new Vegas, in which he shines and, as my mother informed me, was great in one of her favorite soaps - couldn't say which.

In any case after Rosalee wins the contest, she's whisked away to be wined and dined Hollywood style, and wouldn't you know it, the young Hollywood hunk begins to perceive the error of his nefarious ways and is in fact rather smitten by the innocent all-American charms of the young West Virginian. So much so that after he sobers up, he decides to pay a little visit to Fraziers Bottom, much to the delight of the small town's teenage girls and amusingly to Rosalees father (played by the always hilarious Gary Cole, who runs a little entertainment website, and plays the Starstruck schmuck to the hilt.) Sadly Tad's visit is a very unwelcome development for Pete who, of course, is secretly in love with Rosalee. Mmm . . . I liked this movie the first time it came out, when it went by the title of Doc Hollywood. "Easy Spade."

I know it sounds like I loved this movie, but the problem is in the writing. This classic Hollywood love-triangle set-up is all well and good, but after the smit hits the fan, it just sort of sputters out. I kept thinking to myself that this is a movie inspired by the popularity of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." Who cares about dialogue and meaningful conflict when these worlds collide as long as the Vegas hunk tears off his shirt. God he's got a yummy tummy." " Who wants to go to Frazier's Bottom? Me, me, me!" I don't know, this is a film that had all the promise in the world, but chickened out. Had it traded it's pat-happy cutesiness, for just a tad of realistic edginess it could've worked. As it is, the film will please it's target audience, teenage girls, gay men, and a few moon-eyed critics who were expecting a Lizzie Maquire movie.