Is it possible to be “nice to a fault”? If you're the title character in Edward Burns' Nice Guy Johnny, the answer is an emphatic yes. Johnny Rizzo (Matt Bush) is enjoying his dream job as a sports talk show host in Oakland. Johnny also loves his fiancée, Claire (Anna Wood), even though she's a querulous, controlling shrew who demands that he abandon his low-paying radio gig and fly to New York to interview for a position at her father's cardboard box company. Johnny acquiesces, of course, but no sooner does he arrive in the city than his Uncle Terry (Burns)—a charming, manipulative ne'er-do-well—tries to persuade his nephew to sow a few wild oats before marrying and giving up his current job. During a weekend in the Hamptons, Johnny meets Brooke (Kerry Bishé), a lovely, down-to-earth tennis pro. Burns' broad script leaves little doubt about where the story is headed, but this rom-com-lite still works, since it's all about the journey, not the destination, and the scenery is enjoyable enough to make the ride worthwhile. Recommended. (S. Graham)
Nice Guy Johnny
MPI, 92 min., not rated, DVD: $24.99 Volume 26, Issue 2
Nice Guy Johnny
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