6 Month Rule

6 Month Rule
Directed by	Blayne Weaver
Written by	Blayne Weaver
Starring	Blayne Weaver Martin Starr Natalie Morales
Cinematography	Daniel Stoloff
Edited by	Abe Levy
Music by	Andrew Hollander
Production companies	Secret Identity Productions Steakhaus Productions
Distributed by	Abramorama Secret Identity Pictures
Release date	October 21, 2011 (2011-10-21) (Austin Film Festival premiere)
Running time	100 minutes
Country	USA
Language	English
Box office	$14,057

6 Month Rule is a 2011 comedy film starring Martin Starr and Blayne Weaver.

A womanizer and commitment-phobe tries to teach his best friend, a serial monogamist, the art of being single and how to avoid heartbreak.

Plot

Tyler is a photographer who divides his time between his work and women. Although he has published a book of his artistic work, he pays the bills with advertising photos. Checking the local bookstore to see if copies of his books were sold, Tyler tries to strike up a conversation with a woman looking through his book. Their conversation is cut short when he has an altercation with someone else in the shop.

Tyler has a brief interlude with Wendy, who comments that they've been occasionally hooking up for nearly two years. As he's dressing, he reminds her that 'The Rules' prevent him from staying the night. Alan, Ty's oldest friend, calls hoping to commiserate about the failure of his three-year relationship with Claire. Ty reminds him of the rule that friendship is the only thing that lasts. He scolds Alan for not recovering the engagement ring and insists he stay on his sofa.

While Ty is sitting in a coffee shop, the woman from the bookstore reappears. After some flirty banter, she leaves without giving her name again. Ty is left enthralled, and is pleased when she looks back at him from the stoplight.

The guys go to Claire's to get Alan's things. Ty asks for the now obsolete engagement ring. Back at his place, Tyler explains he is fading a girl, occasionally contacting her at longer and longer intervals as no one owes explanations unless they are in a committed relationship. Ty's agent, Paul, calls him to meet the musician who wants publicity pics. It turns out to be at a gallery where the mystery girl, Sophie, is hanging her paintings for an exhibition. Moments later, Julian appears. Gushing over Sophie's paintings and Ty's photos, Julian is very intense. He breezes through, outpouring his enthusiasm for their collaboration. He also refers to her as his girlfriend. Although crestfallen, Ty decides to drag Alan along to a party Justin invites him to.

Tyler confesses his feelings to Alan, then talks about 'the girl you date versus the perfect girl'. The first makes you at ease but dissatisfied, while the second makes you nervous and unsure of yourself, putting you at risk of total destruction. Getting Sophie alone, Ty accuses her of playing it safe by being with Julian, that he'll never understand her. When she says they aren't a couple, he lunges toward her and they share a passionate kiss. However, when he suggests they leave together, she refuses to hurt Julian.

Back at the party, Tyler re-meets a blond model through his agent. In front of Sophie he suggests they go home together, but once there can't perform. He bursts into his apartment, ranting about screwing up with Sophie and waking Alan. Alan advises him to confess his feelings for her.

At her studio, after a lot of rambling, and against her better judgement, Sophie accepts Ty's apology. They spend three days in her apartment where they connect both physically and intellectually.

Tyler has the photo shoot the next day with Julian. He arranges a double date so Alan can hook up that evening. Before it can happen, Julian tells Ty he's going to try to win Sophie back from whoever she's been seeing, not knowing it's Ty. Tyler follows him to her place and he takes her call saying she'll be late, tortured that she's invited Julian in. By the time Sophie arrives to their date, Ty is in a jealous frenzy. He accuses her of sleeping with Julian, so she breaks it off with him. When he turns to Alan for sympathy, he won't support him. He goes to Wendy, but she won't hear him, as she's been secretly in love with him.

Six months pass and Ty finally visits Alan in his new place, and is surprised to see Wendy. She tells him Julian is back in town and performing that night. When Ty goes to talk with Sophie, Julian sees him. Initially pleased to see to see Ty, when Ty tells him he was 'the other guy', Julian jumps him and has him thrown out. Sophie follows him out, Ty declares his love, and they have one last kiss. She may not be in love with Julian, but Ty is too much of a risk. Ty and Alan meet up and go to the bar. The experience has changed Ty's outlook on relationships.

Cast

• Blayne Weaver as Tyler
• Martin Starr as Alan
• Natalie Morales as Sophie
• John Michael Higgins as Paul, Tyler's agent
• Jaime Pressly as Claire
• Vanessa Branch as Wendy
• Patrick J. Adams as Julian

Reception

Variety said, "Script stumbles a bit, though, in a last stretch that caves in to sentimental genre conventions before halfheartedly ending on a semi-sober note." Slant Magazine rated it 2 out of 5 stars. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a rating of 22% by critics, based on 9 reviews.