Single Dad Hunt

starring: KIRBY ELLWOOD & PAUL ADDISON

Trying to escape her handsy boss, Rachel ends up proposing marriage to ‘Frank’ when his daughter calls her Mommy. Little does she know but Frank is actually Felix Astor, billionaire CEO…

REVIEW

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another great rewatch from last year, yes I've seen several versions of this storyline, and this one soars because of the excellent cast.

I think this is where Kirby Ellwood went supersonic with the ultimate girl next door you underestimate at your peril. She is dynamite as Rachel, warm, funny, fierce when anyone threatens her family and has the best bond with Andrea and Frank. And acts her socks off in Ep 61 when she lays out for Felix all the ways he has hurt her.

Then we have Paul Addison in another superstar role, seemingly taking a back seat to the big performances by Stella Mae Reid and Kirby Ellwood but actually the beating heart of the story, and again breaks your heart in Ep 61 and when he realises he may lose Rachel.

We have comedy - Felix's parents pretending to be the help and his mum fretting that the 2 apartments up town are not enough of a gift.

We have a great villain Joanna Marie Hobbie always brings it - esp appreciated in the altercation with Andrea she stumbled into her rather than specially attacking her.

We have great besties for the relationship debrief including Ben Taylor.

Céline Planata as the OG snobby shop assistant in my book.

It's all so well put together, the only jarring bit is the end, where we are unfairly left with a to be continued.

It's such a great story and does feel like a throwback now to more innocent times in verts when there was more of a focus on the story, and less use of violence and sex by marketing bods for the metrics.

More decent stories well told like this please.

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

This is all about Felix initially misjudging Rachel and then slowly figuring out she is totally amazing, really strong and will always be there for him and Andrea. Amazing scene where he realises Rachel trusts him with the ex wife. And Episode 61 will break your heart, when he realises he may have lost her. It is so good because we see the development of the whole relationship.

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

Carmela does most of the work, but the real problem is Felix’s ex wife - from the plagiarism accusations to stealing Rachel’s child.

😂 Comedy gold:

Andrea (Stella Reid) has the best comedy timing, from when she first runs away from her dad, manipulating her parents together, to siding with Rachel when she wants a divorce. Top work.

Also Rachel giving Carmela a $18k manicure.

🎺 Unsung hero:

Rachel’s bestie for knowing how to use LinkedIn - she looks up who owns Stargems! Massive moment for all vertical characters.

✍🏼 DETAILS

Director Olivia Luying Wang | 2024

Available on ShortMax