The best scene in "Dating a Sociopath" (a.k.a., "The Sweetheart") took place in a jewelry store where the manager confronts the film's villain Brian McGavin. The jeweler recognizes a returned bracelet as one that he had sold to Brian years ago when Brian was living with an older woman who died under suspicious circumstances. Brian then made a gift of he bracelet to second woman. The jeweler becomes especially concerned when Brian had gifted bracelet to yet third woman, Sam. It was this scene in the jewelry store that first revealed the twisted mind of Brian McGavin.

Sam is the mother of young Jane and little Tilly (Till). She had a falling out with her husband Paul after his reckless driving led to a serious leg injury for the older daughter Jane. Paul has now moved into a hotel, and Sam has moved Brian into the family home.

The most intriguing character in the film is the quick-thinking Jane, who recognizes right away that Brian is a phony. She eventually catches on as well that Brian has substituted placebos for her painkillers, making her recovery process slow and miserable. The actress playing Jane does a good job moving ambling around on crutches and using a cane, which will figure prominently in the physical action of the film.

The filmmakers moved the narrative along at a brisk pace. It was interesting to watch the dissolute father Paul strive to redeem himself after his disgraceful conduct. Jane's bestie Karli added an important tracking device on Brian's car that led to an old hideaway for the grand climax.

The bracelet was a useful metaphor for the shallow behavior of Sam, who fell too fast and too hard for a gold digger as a new sweetheart. It was due to the heroics of Jane limping noticeably through the action that put greater focus on greater the genuine family values that triumphed in the end.