PUAmore
Andy (Steve Carell) is a quiet electronics-store clerk with a secret his co-workers discover by accident: he has never had sex. David (Paul Rudd), Cal (Seth Rogen) and Jay (Romany Malco) decide to fix that, each with his own method. Meanwhile Andy meets Trish (Catherine Keener), a single mother who runs a shop of her own.
What it shows about dating
The coaching montage is a comedy of bad advice: borrowed lines, drunken approaches and a lot of bravado. It works because it is recognisable. Many men learn the same way, from friends who sound sure of themselves and have no better idea than he does. The film also shows what the actual obstacle is. Andy is not unattractive, he is avoiding rejection and hiding something he is ashamed of.
What you can learn
- Shame grows in secret. Andy’s problem gets smaller the moment he stops hiding it from the people around him.
- Lines don’t beat ease. The friends’ tricks fail, while Andy’s relaxed, honest conversations with Trish do the work.
- Take your time with the right one. Rushing to “get it over with” is the wrong goal; real interest and patience make it easier, not harder.
If approach nerves are your issue, approach anxiety is the term to read next.
