Great characters, lazy second half

Rating: 5/10 (17 March 2019)

I loved the first half of this movie. Compelling characters made the movie unique and interesting. But then the dance "deal" seemed like a forced plot point to put Cooper and Lawrence's characters together. Likewise, the bet scene in the house seemed to not fit, with too much football talk and unfitting too-lighthearted / mock seriousness betting and explaining the dance scoring. Weird premise of winning the football game and getting a score on the dance. The movie finished alright, it just seemed like the middle was not great.
Also, they really shoved down your throat how Tiffany wrote the letters not Nikki. What was certainly implied from the get-go was made clear when she said "reading the signs." And then further when she said it again. And a third time. And then they zoomed in on that line in the letter. And zoomed in on Bradley Cooper's face. Really?
Could've been an incredible movie, instead just okay.