Surprised By Oxford (2023) – Movie Review/Summary

Film Summary

Since her father betrayed her trust and abandoned her, Carolyn has been closed off. She poured into her studies while maintaining her relationship with her mom, but while capable of making friends and networking in the pursuit of career goals, love, lust, and things beyond friendship? She cut herself off.

However, at Oxford, she finds herself not only the new girl but also someone who is quite fetching in the eyes of a few young men. Kent is the main one who may have a chance, but with walls built up strong, Kent will have to look for a door, climb over, or try to find where the wall ends if he wants access to Carolyn’s heart.

 

Character Descriptions

Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member.

Carolyn

An academic all her life, there was a time when Carolyn was open and loving, but after her father was caught committing multiple federal crimes and seemingly cutting off contact, she became closed off to everyone but her mom. However, with going to Oxford, in a foreign country, she has begun to open up again.

Kent

A senior at Oxford, in his last year, Kent’s faith presents a bit of a challenge in his dating life, especially due to misconceptions between his chastity and his beliefs.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Delicious: Season 1.”

Regina Knight

The first female provost of one of the collections of schools that make Oxford, she is well-respected and liked and becomes a maternal figure to Carolyn when she needs someone the most but doesn’t reach out to her own mother.

Review

Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)

Highlights

It Feels Like A Smart Person’s Romance Movie

Now, this isn’t to say “Surprised By Oxford” is stirring and really digs into the complications of love or even balancing love and relationships with self-development. The film isn’t that complicated. However, what some may like is that alongside Carolyn’s challenges of love are topics and ideas about literature that can make the conversations you listen to when Kent isn’t around of interest.

Often, young adult romances are filled with the drama of friends, family, co-workers, and things like that. “Surprised By Oxford” instead gives you a literary analysis to fill in the gaps between the parts, and it is a bit refreshing. Mind you, have I read most or any of what was mentioned? No.

However, I was familiar enough with what was discussed to follow along and appreciate the personalities, even if I can’t remember one of Carolyn’s professors by name.

Regina Knight

Regina Knight is the provost for the College of Oxford that Carolyn attends, and she is the perfect example of why representation matters. More than once, Carolyn is led to believe that she cannot have a personal life, outside of friends and be engaged and a top member of her class. Professor Knight pushes her to change that perspective.

Strangely, Carolyn’s mother disappears, and their relationship becomes unimportant soon after Carolyn arrives in Oxford, and while she does make friends, who encourage her to socialize, their advice isn’t consistently taken or valued. This makes Professor Knight invaluable, for she is a reminder that, while things might be easier than they appear, you can find fulfillment in more than one facet of your life.

I mean, as one of the first women in her position, Professor Knight is setting precedents, and like the best mentors, she doesn’t see her role as just a personal accomplishment but one that can be used to inspire others. So, in the case of Carolyn, an American far from home, letting it be known she is seen and cared about and the college experience isn’t purely about academics and the right connections for a job thereafter, she opens her up.

Which, of course, is hard for someone like Carolyn, with trust issues, but the right words said by the right person always go a long way. So, while Regina Knight may not say things that can set a precedent for a general audience, there is no denying her impact on Carolyn and how necessary she is for the film.

Who Is This For?

Those who love a romance film focused on a woman struggling with love while fairly succeeding in all other aspects of her life.

General Information

Director(s)	Ryan Whitaker
Screenplay By	Ryan Whitaker
Based On Work By	Carolyn Weber
Date Released	December 1, 2023
How To Watch	Video On Demand
Genre(s)	Drama Romance Young Adult
Film Length	1 Hour 47 Minutes
Content Rating	Not Rated
Noted Characters and Cast
Carolyn	Rose Reid
Kent	Ruairi O’Connor
Regina Knight	Phyllis Logan

Content Rating Explanation

• Dialog: Some Cursing
• Violence: Nothing notable
• Sexual Content: Nothing visibly seen
• Miscellaneous: Drinking

Recommendations

If you like this movie, we recommend:

1. Beautiful Disaster: Similar lead who struggles with relationships due to their father’s actions
2. The Bold Type (TV Series): If you’d like to watch multiple women navigate post-college life, this FreeForm show we can’t recommend enough

Check out our movies page for our latest movie reviews and recommendations.

Discussion Items

Let us know your thoughts in the comments:

1. When do you think is the most inopportune time to fall in love? High school, college, starting your dream job, or once you’ve done everything but found love?