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Overview
A romance film which pursues the idea that love can be eternal, possibly fate, but can still remain complicated.
Review (with Spoilers) – Below
Characters & Story
Since they were children Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Claflin) have been close. They shared music they found, Alex shared his dreams about being inanimate objects, and they plan to head to Boston together as he goes to Harvard, to become a doctor, and she goes to Boston University to study hotel management. However, one dance leads to a drastic change of plans for Rosie, and throws off the shared dreams of her and Alex. Leaving you left to wonder: Will things end with them together, or will too many changes drive them apart?
Praise
Being that Collins hasn’t the most extensive resume, nor has many films which are must sees, in terms of them having to be seen because she is in it, my expectations were rather low. However, something about her in this movie, with some help from Clarfin, really makes it seem she has gotten opportunities due to more than her last name. For with Rosie being more developed than most female leads in romantic films nowadays, since she has dreams and aspirations which have nothing to do with the guy, makes sacrifices which doesn’t deal with him, and pretty much has her own life outside of him, Collins is given a good foundation to build off of. Making it so as you see her struggle, fall in and out of love, and try to maintain hope, you feel something for the character rather than it just be boring drama to extend the runtime.
And when it comes to the drama, I must admit that with each roadblock, whether it be Rosie getting pregnant, dating her child’s father, or Alex getting engaged, and married, there was this weird feeling where just as much as you wanted them together, at the very least you just wanted them both to happy. For while Rosie is much more developed than Alex, at the same time there isn’t any of the usual, he cheated on her, or some other major familiar climax which makes you wonder why they should maybe end up together. Everything is just about timing and he is likable enough for you to hope that one day, eventually in their life, timing will be right.
Criticism
While much praise is due to Collins and Claflin, I must admit that their romance, even with its roadblocks, seems highly ideal. To the point where when things seem they may go right, or they go wrong, there isn’t this desire to uncontrollably smile, cry, fangirl, or what have you. You just recognize that these two are cute together, but the actors/ characters lack the type of depth which makes them something more than two attractive people who are written to seem like being together is destiny.
Also, a minor critique, I really did not understand if perhaps Ruby’s (Jaime Winstone) part was cut down, or intended to be as it is, but something seemed very off about it. Especially in terms of her sudden romance with Phil (Jamie Beamish) which seemed very slap together. Unless I was just not paying attention.
Overall: TV Viewing
While this film is certainly a positive step forward for Collins’ career as a leading lady, the film itself doesn’t allow either her nor her character, to become some sort of potentially legendary figure in the romance genre. For while it strays away from many of the usual plots Romance films have, it doesn’t lose that sense that the leads have an ideal relationship, and likely all will end up as it should be in the end. Hence the TV Viewing label for while certainly a good movie, which tries to be different, it ultimately is just a shiny new replica of a slightly different design.
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