Tag: Romance

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Movie Review

Look to the Light (2024) Movie Review

Look to the Light – Movie Review

Discover the captivating film 'Look to the Light' and its tragic tale of love, fame, and tough choices. Read our review now.

Director: Christopher Manoe

Writer: Christopher Manoe (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Lucy Benjamin (Eastenders)
  • Mark Moraghan (Dream Team)
  • Kele Le Roc
  • Charlie Goddard
  • Lily Blunsom-Washbrook

Plot: …Life of a wannabe celebrity influencer takes a tragic turn as he chooses fast track insta-fame over love.

Runtime: 1 Hour 31 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Look to the Light starts when wannabe influencer Eddie Reynolds (Goggard) gets cast in a new season of a romance reality show. However, his girlfriend Lauren (Blunsom-Washbrook) isn’t impressed with his decision to be part on the show. To make things more complicated, Lauren discovers she is pregnant, and Eddie wants her to terminate the pregnancy.

However, Eddie’s dreams get shattered and the two are left wondering what to do next. It leads to a couple who have been on the rocks, wondering how to cope with fame giving them another option. All as we follow a year in their lives.

Verdict on Look to the Light

Look to the Light is a romantic drama following a couple whose lives are turned upside down when one gets a glimpse at fame. We follow a year in their lives, showing the ups and downs which could redefine who they are.

This movie takes us into a strange world of young love and the desperate need for fame. It shows two people who seem like they shouldn’t be together before anything happens. Once the fame gets inserted it shows for sure they shouldn’t be together, but they keep getting drawn back to each. It seems to portray Eddie as manipulative and controlling, while Lauren falls for all the same old lines despite what she has been put through. This seems to highlight a more abusive relationship, rather than a positive one. If we can find a positive in the film, it comes from the struggles sudden fame can cause to people’s mental health. It even tries to leave us with a surprise, which only ends up confusing the plot.

Where to Watch

Look to the Light is set for its UK debut on digital on 27 May, courtesy of Homesick Angel Ltd.

Final Thoughts – Look to the Light is a dangerous glimpse into an abusive relationship.

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Movie Review

The Tearsmith (2024) Movie Review

The Tearsmith – Movie Review

Discover the heartfelt story of The Tearsmith, a movie about love, loss, and finding acceptance. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions.

Director: Alessandro Genovesi

Writer: Erin Doom (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Dana Melanie (Glass Jaw)
  • Caterina Ferioli
  • Eco Andriolo
  • Simone Baldasseroni

Plot: Sometimes our greatest fear is accepting that someone can honestly love us for who we are. Nica and Rigel are ready to find it out together.

Runtime: 1 Hour 43 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Tearsmith starts when Nica loses her family in an accident. She is raised in an orphanage and isn’t adopted until she reaches 17 years old. Nica is adopted along with Rigel by a family who have suffered great loss themselves. While the two are different and want to stay away from each other, things don’t always go that way.

As Nica adapts to a more normal life, they start learning more about the fears they escaped from before. However, their bond grows, and their connection could unlock something they never knew about each other.

Verdict on The Tearsmith

The Tearsmith is a fantasy romance following two orphans who discover a new life together. However, they must first navigate high school drama when their feelings start becoming strong for each other. Even if they hold a much bigger secret about why they have become close.

This is a forbidden romance story following the struggles of young people to find themselves in the world. It puts two teenagers in a world where they could finally be happy but they are unsure of what they want. This doesn’t bring enough to give us a bigger story and while it teases a lot of fantasy elements. It doesn’t seem to lean into them enough for what is suggested.

Final Thoughts – The Tearsmith is a typical forbidden teenage love story.

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Movie Review

A Love Song (2022) Movie Review

A Love Song – Movie Review

Love Song

Director: Max Walker-Silverman

Writer: Max Walker-Silverman (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: At a campground in the rural West, a woman waits alone for an old flame from her past to arrive, uncertain of his intentions while bashful about her own.

Runtime: 1 Hour 21 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: A Love Song starts when Faye (Dickey) sets up camp on the waterfront. She is waiting for an old flame to return to see her. As she waits, she gets to meet other strangers visiting the area and the story starts to spread.

Faye’s story sees her meet her old flame Lito (Studi) as the two look back at the lives they have lived. With the one big question between the two, is why they didn’t get to live their lives together.

Verdict on A Love Song

A Love Song is a romantic story following two people that question whether they could have had a life together. They still feel in love with each other but find themselves wondering what happened to leave them living different lives. It shows that despite their age, love can remain important for the two.

This is a nice story about understanding love and seeing where it can put you. It shows that life can happen when you least expect it and leave you wondering what happened. We get a wonderful performance from Dale Dickey that reflects just how hard life can be when you look back and wonder.

Final Thoughts – A Love Song is a touching romance on how love can leave you questioning life.

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Movie Review

Irish Wish (2024) Movie Review

Irish Wish – Movie Review

Discover the plot and runtime of 'Irish Wish', a heartwarming movie about love, friendship, and weddings in Ireland.

Director: Janeen Damian (Falling for Christmas)

Writer: Kirsten Hansen (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: When the love of Maddie’s life gets engaged to her best friend, she puts her feelings aside to be a bridesmaid at their wedding in Ireland.

Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Irish Wish starts when book editor Maddie (Lohan) wants to confess her love for her star author Paul Kennedy (Vlahos). However, Paul meets one of her best friends Emma (Tan) and fast forward a few months, and they are getting married.

The wedding is taking place in Ireland and Maddie is one of the bridesmaids. However, Maddie still wishes she could have told Paul how she felt, makes a wish from a wishing chair and suddenly she is the one getting married. Maddie must figure out whether to continue her wish or return to her normal life. All after meeting photographer James (Speelers) who shows her a new way to view life.

Verdict on Irish Wish

Irish Wish is a romantic comedy following a shy book editor who wants to date the author she works for. However, her best friend falls for him and she ends up becoming a bridesmaid. In a freak chance moment, she gets to make a wish and ends up finding herself the one getting married.

This romantic comedy checks the boxes for everything cheesy about the genre. It does all the basics while trying to make love feel like something that just randomly happens. There isn’t anything remotely fresh about the story, but the concept is fine for the fans of the genre. The fantasy element doesn’t seem to click even if the story pokes fun at the concept. Maddie comes off as a selfish figure and Paul is an arrogant figure who believes his own hype. The performances don’t help either as none as going to be remembered in the romantic comedy world.

Where to Watch

The movie is available on Netflix now.

Final Thoughts – Irish Wish is a basic rom-com which struggles with romance and comedy.

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Movie Review

Players (2024) Movie Review

Players – Movie Review

Experience the unexpected twists and turns in Players. Starring Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr and Tom Ellis. Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes.

Director: Trish Sie (Pitch Perfect 3)

Writer: Whit Anderson (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: New York sportswriter Mack has spent years devising successful hook-up “plays” with her friends, but when she unexpectedly falls for one of her targets, she must learn what it takes to go from simply scoring to playing for keeps

Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Players starts as we meet three horny newspaper employees Mack (Rodriguez), Adam (Wayans Jr) and Brannagan (Prew). The three work together to get as many hookups as possible, using tricks along the way. However, when a handsome writer Nick (Ellis) arrives in their office, Mack sees it as a chance for her latest score.

Mack decides she wants a more serious relationship with Nick and uses her team to help make it happen. The team learn everything about Nick to help Mack get what she wants, but can they pull the plan off or not?

Verdict on Players

Players is a romantic comedy following a sports writer who spends most of her time working with her team to hook up. Her latest target is a handsome writer, but she decides she wants something more serious. The team works together to help her, but her plan comes with a string of problems they must overcome.

This is one of the typical cringe-worthy romantic comedies. It has a series of unrealistic people using shallow thoughts on what love is to get them through their lonely lives. Instead of just people themselves, they create fake personas to get what they want starting with them creating liars towards potential partners. The comedy never lands and the only thing that feels natural is the chemistry between the friends.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts –Players is an unfunny, unromantic, dull movie.

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Movie Review

Ingress (2024) Movie Review

Ingress – Movie Review

Ingress: A Review of the Multiverse Traveling Movie

Director: Rachel Noll James (Follow the River)

Writer: Rachel Noll James (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Rachel Noll James (Malibu Road)
  • Tim DeKay (Oppenheimer)
  • Christina Ulloa (247°F)
  • Chris Soldevilla (Coyote Ugly)
  • Johnny Ferro
  • Barbara Deering

Plot: A woman who can move between parallel realities loses her husband tragically and must overcome past trauma to travel the multiverse once again and find her way into a reality where he is still alive.

Runtime: 1 Hour 57 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Ingress starts as we meet a grieving widow Riley (James) who has been struggling since the loss of her husband. However, she can travel through parallel realities, where she goes in search of her husband. Riley meets Daniel (Clark) who seems to have a connection with what she can do, finally giving her a chance to find closure.

As the pair search for answers, Riley finds herself starting to lose control of her ability. However, her desperation to reconnect with her husband drives her forward. Now, she must find the best universe that would help her uncover the truth and have her happy life back.

Verdict on Ingress

Ingress is a sci-fi romance following a widowed woman travelling through parallel realities in hopes of being reunited with her husband. However, she starts to learn more about what she really wants in life, once she turns to people who understand her reality.

This is a unique spin on the sci-fi romance concept. If you were to compare it to anything, it would be ‘About Time’ without the comedy. Even saying that feels like a stretch, as it keeps you guessing what reality is best and the lives it changes. In the end, this connects to anyone who wishes they could see life through a different set of eyes. We get a great cast which drives the emotional storyline.

Where to Watch

INGRESS was released theatrically on January 23rd in ten theatres across the U.S. The Los Angeles screening will be at the Glendale Laemmle Theatre from February 23rd through the 29th.

Final Thoughts –Ingress is a thoughtful journey through the realities of life.

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Movie Review

The Worst Person in the World (2021) Movie Review

The Worst Person in the World – ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – E (Eskil Vogt) – The Worst Person in the World – Movie Review

The Worst Person in the World – ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – E (Eskil Vogt) – The Worst Person in the World - Movie Review

Director: Joachim Trier

Writer: Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: The chronicles of four years in the life of Julie, a young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, leading her to take a realistic look at who she really is.

Runtime: 2 Hours 8 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Worst Person in the World starts as we meet a young woman Julie (Reinsve). She is trying to figure out her life stepping away from her medical school role to become a photographer. Julie finds herself in a relationship with Aksel (Lie) and believes her life is set up and ready for her.

As the years pass by, Julie starts to wonder about her life and her decisions. This leads her to start questioning everything she has done and wants to do. However, she finds herself believing she could well be the problem behind her own struggles.

Verdict on The Worst Person in The World

The World Person in the World is a romantic comedy following a young woman trying to figure out her life. She doesn’t have a career in mind and finds love in different places. However, with each step she takes, she finds herself wondering what she wants from her own life thinking the worst about herself.

This does get to tackle real-life problems with trying to understand what you want from life. It follows Julie through 12 chapters of her life as she looks back at the decisions she made. Some felt right at the time, while others seem to have lasting effects on her life. It does get the message across strongly, however, it does also make it difficult to connect to everything going on. The whole career uncertainty doesn’t seem to go anywhere and being unsure about love seems to create a negative shadow around Julie.

Final Thoughts – The Worst Person in the World has a strong message played throughout.

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Movie Review

Dreamland (2019) Movie Review

Dreamland – Movie Review

Dreamland

Director: Miles Joris-Peyrafitte

Writer: Nicolaas Zwart (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A teenager’s adventures as a bounty hunter take an unexpected twist.

Runtime: 1 Hour 38 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Dreamland starts when a young man Eugene (Cole) finds his family home struggling. His father George (Fimmel) and mother Olivia (Condon) need him to find work. However, what he finds in the barn house is an outlaw Allison Wells (Robbie).

When Allison tells Eugene her story, she decides to help her escape the cops hunting her, including his father. However, he finds himself trapped in a position which could change his own life.

Verdict on Dreamland

Dreamland is an adventure western following a young man who helps an outlaw woman escape after her latest crime. However, the longer they spend together the more he wants to help out as he starts to fall in love with her.

This is a slow-moving movie that shows us an unexpected love story between a police officer’s son and an outlaw. The idea they team up to find safety is everything we have seen before, except for the reversal of roles. However, nothing involved in the movie seems to do too much to make this enjoyable or standout in anyway.

Final Thoughts –Dreamland is a slow-moving western adventure love story.

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Movie Review

Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) Movie Review

Where the Crawdads Sing – ABC Film Challenge – Catch-Up 2023 – W – Where the Crawdads Sing – Movie Review

Where the Crawdads Sing

Director: Olivia Newman

Writer: Lucy Alibar (Screenplay)

Writer: Delia Owens (Novel)

Cast

Plot: A woman who raised herself in the marshes of the Deep South becomes a suspect in the murder of a man with whom she was once involved.

Runtime: 2 Hours 5 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Where the Crawdads Sing starts when Kya (Edgar-Jones) gets accused of the murder of a local young man. She was born and raised in the marshes never getting an education. Her family had abandoned her, with only local boy Chase Andrews (Dickinson) offering her friendship.

However, it is his death that she is accused of. Local lawyer Tom Milton (Strathairn) takes the case and looks to learn the truth in a town that has already decided on it. this takes Kya back to her blossoming romance as she reveals the truth of what happened.

Verdict on Where the Crawdads Sing

Where the Crawdads Sing is a romantic thriller following the case of a mysterious death. It follows an outsider who has been accused of murdering one of the locals with whom she was romantically involved.

This does dive between the flashback and the court hearing as we see the different stories from her life. The jumping between time doesn’t help this movie as we find ourselves going into areas we don’t need to. On the romantic side of things, it is everything we have seen before. As for the mystery, nothing seems to point any fingers in the direction of Kya being murdered, which doesn’t do enough to show us what could happen.

Final Thoughts – Where the Crawdads Sing is a basic young adult romantic thriller.