A new film from Red Square Pictures and writer/director Benjamin Cox, Better Off Single is the NYC dating comedy that follows one man’s hallucination-fueled, post-breakup quest to find new love… and himself. Better Off Single stars Aaron Tveit, Abby Elliott, Lauren Miller Rogen, Kal Penn, Chris Elliott, Lewis Black, Shane McRae, Kelen Coleman and Annaleigh Ashford.
When Charlie Carroll quits his job and his girlfriend on the same day, it seems as though he’s finally found freedom. But after a quick dip in the dark waters of the NYC dating pool, Charlie begins to wonder if he’s made a mistake. He’s not equipped for single life. In fact, Charlie might not be equipped for life in general. With no job and no love, Charlie is forced to go on a journey of self-discovery so intense that he begins to suffer from surreal hallucinations, flashbacks, and fantasies. Will he find “the one?” Or did that ship already sail, taking with it his only hopes for relationship sanity?
“Ever notice that when you’re not in a relationship, everyone else is in a ridiculously happy one?”- Charlie
On paper Charlie Carroll seems like a catch: he’s handsome, early 30s, and has a good job at a Manhattan ad firm. But for some reason, Charlie has always struggled with women. It seems like he’s never in a relationship, while everyone else is in a ridiculously happy one. But Charlie never let his feelings get the best of him… until Angela. Angela – the love of his life. But when Charlie loses Angela and his job in one day, he begins to lose his sanity as well.
In the wake of the Angela break-up, Charlie attempts to get over his ex and find “the one.” But despite his best efforts, he can’t drop his Angela obsession. Charlie becomes more desperate and unhinged with every passing day. She visits him in flashbacks, fuels his hallucinations and haunts him in strange sex fantasies. Fortunately, Charlie has some good friends to help him through. But Charlie’s constant dating rants are starting to get on everyone’s nerves. If love doesn’t come soon, a full-fledged nervous breakdown will.
“I really wanted our relationship to work, you know..?
You just never tried to understand me…”- Angela
From their first meeting it seemed like Angela and Charlie were destined for one another. Angela was beautiful, late 20s, and possessed a sharp sense of humor that matched Charlie’s dry wit. She wasn’t perfect: she occasionally drank too much (Irish car bombs, anyone?), and becoming more like her parents was definitely a drawback. But Angela’s fiery spirit always inspired and challenged Charlie. In the end, however, things proved to be too much of a challenge, and Charlie and Angela split.
Now, the only time Charlie sees Angela is in flashbacks and in hallucinations. She haunts his every waking moment. The Angela that Charlie sees in his daydreams is something of a nightmare, and a constant reminder of his romantic failings.
“Treat women like basketball. No more forcing no-look passes through traffic for an easy layup. Let the game come to you...”- Vince
Vince Donovan seems to have it all: he’s a successful doctor, handsome, early 30s, and engaged to the beautiful and brilliant Kathy. Vince is Charlie’s best friend, and often his unofficial life coach. Vince doesn’t mind being Charlie’s personal Oprah up to a point, but after a while Charlie’s incessant whining about love and relationships starts to drive Vince crazy.
Since Vince and Charlie are buddies from way back, Vince is determined to help Charlie find Mrs. Right... or at least regain his mojo. Vince may be engaged, but that doesn’t mean he can’t encourage Charlie to go on a few wild one-night stands. Vince wants to see his friend find love – but he also wants to put an end to Charlie’s non-stop complaining about his non-existent sex life.
“Any man with a pulse and an American Express card gets dates, all right?”- Kathy
Kathy is Vince’s fiancée, in her late 20s. She lovingly tolerates the boyish antics of Charlie, Vince and Brice, but is also the voice of reason among Charlie's friends. She provides a much needed female perspective when it comes to Charlie’s romantic life. Ever pragmatic, she is constantly urging Charlie to get a grip.
Kathy is supportive, but that doesn’t mean she can’t have a few laughs at Charlie’s expense. Charlie is often the butt of Kathy's jokes. But her dry sense of humor is not without purpose – she tries to knock some sense into Charlie and maybe even inspire a little introspection.
“Yes, sexy ladies of New York SIT-TAY! I’m totally FU©KING AVAILABLE to CRUSH A$$ anytime you WANT!!”- Brice
Charlie’s buddy Brice is a stogie smoking, lady loving, 24 karat a-hole. Brice is a recently (and happily) divorced NYC banker. He has made it his post-marriage mission to “crush a$$” with every woman in New York. As a man who has seen the inside of married life, Brice tries to convince Charlie to forget his relationship woes and enjoy his single status. As Brice puts it: “I have way more sex single than I ever had married.”
He may be an overly aggressive oaf (he may even be the Devil), but when it comes to getting laid, Brice knows his $hit. He has the power to identify sexual conquests with the robotic accuracy of the Terminator. His advice for scoring is fool-proof. And he’s the Machiavellian expert when it comes to emerging from one-night stands unscathed – and unattached – like gold.