Saturday, September 16, 2023

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT**


The really annoying millennial assistant from White Lotus season 2 (Haley Lu Richardson) and Eastenders' Peter Beale (Ben Hardy) fall in love at first sight at a New York airport lounge. She's going to London for her father's second marriage, he's going to a living memorial for his dying mother.  Back in London, she decides to crash the aforementioned memorial and then he follows her to the wedding reception and all's well that ends well. 

Vanessa Caswill directs her debut feature with good pace but DP Luke Bryant's coral palette feels cloying.  Katie Lovejoy's script based on Jennifer E Smith's novel is similarly grating thanks to a condescending and unnecessary voiceover from a recurring character played by Jameela Jamil. The only real reason to watch this film - and a star each for both - is the genuinely moving love story between the English boy's parents. Dexter Fletcher and Sally Phillips play thespians who have lived a wonderful life together, thwarted by her now dying of cancer.  The living memorial is truly emotional, and I must admit I shed a tear.  THAT - not to the stupid meet cute between the kids - is the heart of the story, and the only thing in this film worth a damn.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT has a running time of 90 minutes, is rated PG-13, and is on global release on Netflix.

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