DVD Review - Nice Guy Johnny

Edward Burns in
"Nice Guy Johnny"

Matt Bush stars as Johnny, the host of a late-night, sports-talk, radio show in Oakland, California. The father of his fiancee, Claire, has arranged for a job interview in New York City. The job isn't in radio. It's in a warehouse. It's not the job Johnny wants, but his fiancee pushes him because it's more money. He's hesitant because doing radio is his dream and he really doesn't want to leave.

Edward Burns (The Brothers McMullen and Saving Private Ryan) writes and directs this brief, romantic comedy. Burns also co-stars as Terry, Johnny's womanizing scumbag of an uncle. Terry runs a tavern in New York. Before Johnny's interview, Terry takes Johnny to the Hamptons to crash at an old girlfriend's house. While there, Terry introduces his nephew to Brooke, played by Kerry Bishe, a pretty blonde who interferes with Johnny's plans.

Terry pushes Johnny to have an affair with this girl. Johnny resists because he says he's not that kind of guy. Brooke pushes Johnny to ditch the interview and stick with his California job because that's where his passion lies. Johnny says he made a promise to his fiancee to take that job and make more money and Johnny doesn't want to break his word.

I appreciate Burns for crafting a romantic comedy that doesn't feel so contrived. At the same time, there's hardly anything compelling here. Matt Bush is an interesting little guy with charming potential whose "nice guy" nature is never really contrasted to any degree that I thought was worth making this movie. The stakes are rather low.

Nice Guy Johnny premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2010. It was made available on DVD and on Demand via iTunes, Amazon and Ed Burns' website in October. A special edition DVD was released this June. Then or shortly thereafter, the movie could be streamed on NetFlix Watch Instantly.

Three Stars out of Five.
Not Rated But Recommended 13 and Up.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 30 mins.