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Thursday, April 18, 2024
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HOLLYWOOD LOVE, ROSIE
EDITOR'S PICK
'Love,
Rosie' - charming romantic dramedy (IANS Movie Review)
Rating:
**1/2
'Love, Rosie' is a frothy, run-of-the-mill, but charming romantic
dramedy based on Cecelia Ahern's novel, 'Where Rainbows End'.
The narration literally starts off by asking the audience a rhetorical question,
'What do you get when you fall in love?'
For those who don't have an answer to the question, this film is a response of
sorts. And for those who know the answer, this is a reiteration of events that
has touched their lives at some point of time.
Narrated in a non-linear fashion, 'Love, Rosie' is the tragic saga of
Rossie Dunne (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Claflin) of how, the two inseparable
childhood friends take each other for granted and remain 'best friends forever'
and star-crossed lovers. It is after a fleeting shared moment that they part
ways. The realisation dawns that despite their flaws and flings, they are meant
for each other and fate has decided to bring them together.
Though the eventuality is predictable, it is their journey, packed with
misunderstandings and ill-fated circumstances that makes the viewing
interesting. But then the plot loses its fortitude in terms of logical balance
of the character graphs.
Similarly, the script emphasises heavily on dreams -- literally, as well as in
terms of ambition of both the characters. It is when Rosie's father advises her,
'There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it, so keep chasing
your dreams', the advise seems apt. But in the overall context of the film,
this message seems forced as Rosie was never fiercely chasing her dreams or her
man!
The performances of every character are fresh and bubbly. Lily Collins as Rosie
Dunne and Sam Claflin as Alex are likeable. Their chemistry is palpable. But it
is their transition, physically and mentally, from teenagers to adults in their
early thirties that is unconvincing. Nevertheless, both of them make a loveable
pair.
They are aptly supported by Suki Waterhouse as Bethany -- Alex's girlfriend in
college, Tamsin Egerton as Alex's sexy wife and Christian Cooke as Rosie's one
night stand and a mistake, have their moments to shine.
The humour surfs up sporadically in a formulaic situational manner. There are
precisely two memorable scenes; both involving Rosie's sexual endeavours. These
scenes induce laughter and remain etched in your memory much after you leave the
theatres.
On the visual front, with his complex camera movement, few of director of
photography, Christian Rein's frames are worth a mention. Especially the shot
that captures a close up of a melancholic Rosie, then gradually zooms out to
capture her within the frames of the window and go beyond that to showcase the
whole house and the lane. This image metaphorically shows Rosie's loneliness.
This technique is repeated twice in the film.
The numerous, frisky and mindless soundtracks actually add to the frothiness of
the narration. The film is worth a watch if you have nothing better to do.
