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How to Build a Better Boy

How to Build a Better Boy

Family · Science Fiction · TV Movie · 2014

After inadvertently inputting the qualities of the ideal boyfriend into a high-tech government computer, two social outcasts named Mae and Gabby must contend with Albert, a cybernetic sweetheart with only one directive: to treat Mae to the perfect highschool romance.

Movie details

How to Build a Better Boy

“Never underestimate two girls with a plan.”

2014 Family · Science Fiction · TV Movie 1h 30m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.4 / 10

Community rating

After inadvertently inputting the qualities of the ideal boyfriend into a high-tech government computer, two social outcasts named Mae and Gabby must contend with Albert, a cybernetic sweetheart with only one directive: to treat Mae to the perfect highschool romance.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over How to Build a Better Boy?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Paul Hoen

Written by

Jason Mayland

China Anne McClain

China Anne McClain

Gabby Harrison

Kelli Berglund

Kelli Berglund

Mae Hartley

Marshall Williams

Marshall Williams

Albert Banks

Matt Shively

Matt Shively

Bart Hartley

Ashley Argota

Ashley Argota

Nevaeh Barnes

Noah Centineo

Noah Centineo

Jaden Stark

Roger Bart

Roger Bart

James Hartley

Court is in session

Put How to Build a Better Boy on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.