Good Advice (2001)

Good Advice is the kind of glossy, early-2000s romantic comedy that sneaks up on you: it starts with a slick Wall Street ego and pivots into a surprisingly warm, newsroom-set reinvention story where charm has to grow a conscience. Charlie Sheen leans into the fast-talking confidence that made him a natural in this era, and the movie has fun watching that persona collide with the everyday intimacy of giving people advice—until the jokes start landing with a little more heart than you expect. Angie Harmon brings a steady, grounded spark that keeps the film from floating away on pure snark, while the tone stays breezy and a bit naughty in that R-rated, date-movie way. It won’t convert you if you dislike rom-coms built on big, sitcom-sized comeuppance, but if you’re on the fence and want something light, likable, and gently romantic, it’s an easy watch with a few pleasantly sincere moments tucked inside the gloss.

Good Advice wants to be a light rom-com about a smug Wall Street guy getting humbled and learning to care about something real, with the cute hook of him secretly writing an advice column. The problem is the premise feels forced and the script leans on stereotypes and convenient turns, so the “growth” can come off more like plot mechanics than earned change. Charlie Sheen has enough charm to keep it moving and there are a few breezy, sitcom-level moments, but if you need believable stakes, sharp comedy, or a romance that doesn’t feel prepackaged, this will likely test your patience. Also note the R-rated edge is mostly language and sexual content rather than anything particularly daring or insightful.