By John Corrado

This week, Paramount is releasing the 2004 romantic comedy Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! for the first time on Blu-ray, which didn’t do particularly well at the time of its initial release, but seems to have gained more of a following over the years.

The main character is Rosalee Futch (Kate Bosworth), a young woman in Frazier’s Bottom, West Virginia, who wins a contest to hang out with Tad Hamilton (Josh Duhamel in his film debut), a Hollywood heartthrob in need of an image rehabilitation.

The contest is cooked up by Tad’s manager (Sean Hayes) and agent (Nathan Lane) during a dry spell in his career as a publicity stunt to get him cast in another movie. But Tad starts developing feelings for Rosalee following their initial date, and starts inserting himself into her life for real, causing her co-worker Pete (Topher Grace) to become jealous as he wrestles with expressing his feelings for her.

Directed by Robert Luketic, who was fresh off the success of 2001’s Legally Blonde at the time, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! was nevertheless a flop at the box office. The film isn’t exactly a great entry into the rom-com genre, with an uneven screenplay by Victor Levin that is marked by its inconsistent character development. Despite ostensibly being a love triangle, the film doesn’t really do enough to develop any sort of romantic connection between Pete and Rosalee, and Tad isn’t really presented as sleazy enough for the story to fully work.

At times it seems like the film is intended as a sendup of romantic comedies, with Pete offering some commentary on specific genre tropes, but it doesn’t stick to the bit enough to really work as one. That said, while the film is as predictable and clichéd as they come, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! is not unwatchable for what it is (e.g., a cheesy early-2000s romantic comedy), and Bosworth carries the film with a likeable performance. And if you happen to be a fan, the Blu-ray provides a nice upgrade.

Bonus Features (Blu-ray):

The Blu-ray includes the same deleted scenes and gag reel from the DVD release. There is no digital copy included in the package.

• Deleted Scenes (Play All – 22 minutes, 31 seconds)

• Old Opening (2 minutes, 19 seconds)

• Pete’s Evening vs. Tad’s Evening (1 minute, 30 seconds)

• Pete’s Contest Contribution (1 minute, 25 seconds)

• Rosalee’s Hotel Entrance (39 seconds)

• Rosalee Sees the Stars Homes (35 seconds)

• Angelica Seduces with Popcorn (1 minute, 37 seconds)

• Rosalee on the Plane (32 seconds)

• Paris Hilton Parachutes In (1 minute, 34 seconds)

• Tad Greets Gardener (17 seconds)

• Tad’s Phone Call with Richard (4 minutes, 4 seconds)

• Paris Hilton and Richard Levy (59 seconds)

• Richard on the Golf Course (1 minute, 1 second)

• Pete and Tad Ride Horses (32 seconds)

• Longer Rant by Richard (3 minutes, 23 seconds)

• Cathy Consoles Tad (55 seconds)

• Pete and Rosalee Watch New Tad (1 minute, 2 seconds)

• Gag Reel!!! (5 minutes, 41 seconds)

Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! is a Paramount Home Entertainment release. It’s 96 minutes and rated PG.

Street Date: April 26th, 2022