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As Tad Hamilton, former daytime stud lights up the silver screen

Win a Date Gets Two Bubbles UP

You Can Win “Win a Date” Stuff – Including The Shirt off Josh Duhamel’s Back!

First of all – romantic comedies are my kind of movies. I love them. Have even written a few myself. They’re fun, uplifting and put you in a good mood. Dreamworks new “Win a Date With Tad Hamilton,” starring Kate Bosworth, Topher Grace and Emmy winner, Josh Duhamel (ex Leo, AMC ) is no different. It’s about a small-town girl who gets the date of her dreams – a Cinderella story that poses the question – will she end up with Prince Charming or Mr. Ordinary?

The fairy tale revolves around star struck, Rosalee Futch (Kate Bosworth), a grocery clerk living in rural West Virginia. But even a small-town girl can have big dreams, and Rosalee’s is to someday…somehow…meet her big-screen idol, Tad Hamilton (adorably portrayed by Josh Duhamel). The "somehow" arrives in the form of a contest—the grand prize: a date with Tad Hamilton—and the "someday" is now. Rosalee wins the contest -- much to the chagrin of her best friend and co-worker Pete (Topher Grace), who is deeply, hopelessly—and secretly—in love with Rosalee.

 

The "Win a Date" contest was cooked up by Tad’s agent, Richard Levy (Nathan Lane), and his manager, also named Richard Levy (Sean Hayes), to clean up Tad’s bad-boy Hollywood image. Someone should have told them to be careful what you wish for. When Tad meets Rosalee and gets a taste of what he’s been missing in the "real world," he decides he wants seconds and moves to West Virginia, turning Rosalee’s dream come true into a nightmare for Richard Levy, Richard Levy and, most of all, Pete.

You always know how romantic comedies will turn out, but the fun is getting there. In “Win a Date,” it could really go either way, so you’re kept guessing till the end! Fact is, the two contenders for Rosie’s affection are both worth rooting for. It would be a happy ending either way. But then, maybe that’s why this movie works so well, IMHO. Because it’s a happy ending for some, but bittersweet for others.

All the characters were equally appealing. Josh Duhamel’s film debut secures his break-out star status. First he wowed us with his daytime Emmy Award winning portrayal of Leo on AMC. Next, he showed us his primetime chops as the hunky casino security expert, Danny McCoy, in NBC’s Las Vegas. As Tad Hamilton in “Win a Date,” he takes things up another notch. Duhamel may not yet have the movie star power of his character Tad Hamilton, but we predict that he will! He rocks as Tad. He gives the tall, handsome, big time movie star a vulnerable side, and becomes the true white knight when he ultimately fesses up about something extremely important to Rosalee.

Topher Grace portrays Pete with humor, warmth and amazing vulnerability, although he left less than a positive impression during our interview. More on that in our Feature Story.

Kate Bosworth shines as Rosie. She is beautiful, charming, funny and real as the star-struck grocery clerk. She has undeniable chemistry with Duhamel, Grace and Ginnifer Goodwin as Cathy, her just-as-star-struck girlfriend.

Like the three main characters who light up the screens with their personas, the supporting characters are likewise delightful. Love Nathan Lane and Sean Hayes as the two Richard Levys (“isn’t everyone named Richard Levy?” LOL), Cathy (Ginnifer Goodwin) and the character of Kate’s dad (Gary Cole), who has suddenly become a “Project Greenlight” fan and extremely well-informed about the latest entertainment industry buzz. Great character tic. Overall, both myself and my guest had a great time screening the film and the writing definitely appealed to my sensibilities. With a haunting soundtrack that includes a title song by Liz Phair, “Win a Date” takes romantic comedy full circle, ending as it begins.

Soapdom gives “Win a Date” two enthusiastic Bubbles Up! It’s a movie that will leave you feeling uplifted. It opens this Friday, January 23, 2004 at a theatre near you. Take the person of your dreams to see it, then share your review of the movie on the www.Soapdom.com Movie Message Boards.

"Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!" stars Kate Bosworth ("Blue Crush"), Topher Grace ("Traffic," TV’s "That 70’s Show"), Daytime Emmy winner Josh Duhamel (TV’s "Las Vegas," "All My Children"), Gary Cole ("The Brady Bunch" features) and Ginnifer Goodwin ("Mona Lisa Smile"), with Emmy winner Sean Hayes (TV’s "Will & Grace") and Tony Award winner Nathan Lane ("The Birdcage," Broadway’s "The Producers").

Australian native Robert Luketic, who made his feature film directorial debut with the smash hit comedy "Legally Blonde," directed "Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!," from an original screenplay by Victor Levin (TV’s "The Larry Sanders Show," "Mad About You"). "Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!" is produced by Douglas Wick ("Gladiator," the upcoming "Peter Pan") and Lucy Fisher ("Stuart Little 2," the upcoming "Peter Pan"). William S. Beasley ("The Tuxedo," "The Mexican") and Gail Lyon ("Stuart Little," the upcoming "Peter Pan") are the executive producers.

Win a Date with Tad Hamilton Film Pix One

Win a Date with Tad Hamilton Film Pix Two

Win a Date with Tad Hamilton Film Pix Three

Soapdom's Exclusive Interview with Josh Duhamel (Coming Soon)

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