A film like “The Wedding Date” poses some dilemmas for viewers and critics alike. It is blandly generic in plot, yet warm and endearing in emotion. The characters are quirky and fun, but unoriginal. The film’s acting is actually quite good but is lost in predictability and prosaic dialogue.

“The Wedding Date” is not completely bad, but it is not at all special.

Taking a break from the NBC sitcom “Will and Grace,” Debra Messing stars as Kat, an emotionally and romantically injured

30-something whose little sister is getting married. For added humiliation, the best man happens to be Kat’s ex-fiancee.

Kat is single two years after having her heart broken. In an act of desperation, Kat hires professional male escort Nick, played by Durmot Mulroney, to pose as her love.

And so ensues the generic series of romantic comedy events — Nick and Kat’s relationship begins in a professional manner, but quickly evolves into something more.

That “something more” is later disrupted by a breach of trust, then quickly re-established in a love-conquers-all-epiphany that involves various big-name actors running around wildly, trying to reunite with him or her before it’s too late.

Don’t worry, it works out in the end.

Most curious about the film is Debra Messing as the lovelorn Kat. If Messing accepted this non-Grace role in an attempt to avoid the archetype, this was the wrong character in which to prove herself. Kat is anal-retentive, proper, quiet and emotionally guarded. Messing plays the role with relative success, but there is an air of discomfort about her the whole time.

Mulroney’s performance as Nick, on the other hand, is perfect. Mulroney plays him with utter coolness and just enough sexuality to keep the attention of the viewer without dripping sex appeal. He is intriguingly ambiguous with the role, keeping both viewer and fellow character alike questioning the emotional validity of his actions. Despite his character’s quiet nature, he can’t help but steal the show.

Without Mulroney, “The Wedding Date” would have been a complete failure. But with his grace, and Messing’s heartfelt effort, the film is simply satisfactory.