I’ll deny it if you ever bring it up in conversation, but the truth is, I have a pretty large obsession with romance novels. My Kindle is nearly bursting with them. It’s something about those inevitable plot points full of grand gestures and just a bit of conflict that put a smile on my face, even when the world is literally crumbling around me. Marking his first venture into producing, Shemar Moore’s newest film “The Bounce Back” felt exactly like returning to a favorite romance book.
In the film, which is loosely based on the novel “The Bounce Back Book” by Karen Salmansohn, Moore stars as relationship and self-help expert Matthew Taylor, whose newest best seller, “The Bounce Back “ boasts that getting over heartbreak is a simple as willing yourself to get over it. A divorced dad turned sexy playboy; Matthew seems to float through life on his charms and dazzling smiles as if his past and the destruction of his marriage have no bearing on whom he is today. With his best friend and manager Terry Twist (Bill Bellamy) in tow, Matthew’s life appears to be going along perfectly until a run in with clinical physiologist, Kristin Peralta (Nadine Velazquez), has him rethinking everything he thought he knew about love, intimacy, and heartache.
A career driven woman with little time for nonsense (or love), I admittedly held my breath at first, hopeful that Kristin’s character wouldn’t be reduced to a sassy Latina stereotype. Luckily, Velazquez did not disappoint. Still reeling from a devastating breakup six years prior, Kristin does not sit in her pain, but she certainly didn’t run from it either. Determined not to be made a fool of again, she‘s successful, smart and focused on her own well-being despite being jaded about love and relationships. After being pushed by her girlfriends to attend one of Matthew’s seminars on healing after a devastating breakup, sparks fly between the pair; and not in a good way. With solid counter arguments to all of his points, Kristin is unafraid to call out Matthew on his “bounce back” method. She’s also quick to point out his “lowly” life-coach status as opposed to her license and years of practicing counseling. Their sparring was full of witty comebacks and got more than one chuckle out of me. The duos public bickering swiftly captures the attention of the media, and they soon find themselves on a cross-country book tour, showcasing their opposing views.
“The Bounce Back” doesn’t break any new ground, when it comes to it’s narrative. It’s fairly predictable, hitting all of the nuts and bolts that we are all accustomed to in any romantic comedy; right down to the corny jokes delivered mostly by Bellamy’s character Terry, and Moore’s sensational six-pack abs. (You can’t have a rom-com without a decent set of abs.) However, as a romance lover, there was certainly some charm in this film. Matthew and Kristin are both people I know (and perhaps people I’ve been at one point or another in my life). Most filmgoers will also certainly relate to what it feels like to be stuck in a rut when it comes to their romantic lives. Moreover, many of us can understand the desire to move past heartbreak and pain through sheer willpower; determined to grasp on to the hope that we can no longer see.
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Image: The Bounce Back/ Viva Films
After saying goodbye to “Criminal Minds” earlier this year, actor Shemar Moore is stepping into a new role, funding and producing his first feature film, “The Bounce Back.” Moore stars alongside Nadine Velazquez and Bill Bellamy in this warm, romantic comedy about love, intimacy, and second chances. Moore recently chatted with me about his new role as a producer, what inspired him to step behind the scene, the current state of independent filmmaking and what’s next for him.