.

Watching this I got a strong sense that it wasn’t meant for me. Not due to me being a tad older than the target demographic, although I’m sure I am, but because I think it was made for someone who’s never seen a romcom before.

Every genre trope is here in this movie, the klutzy woman, the sensitive playboy, the meet cute, the desirable exes, the meddling parents, the quirky best friend, the stunning travel show location, a wedding, a cute dog, some damaged home decor and the threat of minor medical incidents. The story also steers the central duo through the obligatory getting togethers and falling out, often with little good reason. The plot is broadly based on a Shakespeare play too but it is certainly no 10 Things I Hate About You. It’s not even She’s the Man.

Oh and everyone is typically beautiful which is something the film really leans into by showing most cast members under 30 with as few clothes on as possible for as much of the running time as they can. So much so that the poster above is quite misleading. Try this one instead, it’s more fitting:

Yep, there is no question that the young female cast are heavily objectified in this film but it is at least it is done to the men as well. In terms of the male nudity there is one particular image that I’ll sadly never unsee.

I do have to credit the movie for doing something slightly different with the de rigueur dance seen over the closing credits, and it is here that one of the earlier naked scenes actually kind of pays off. Director Will Gluck is notably promoting Natasha Bedingfield again too, after his memorable inclusion of her Pocketful of Sunshine in 2010’s Easy A.

In the end though, any romantic comedy depends on whether you go with it in the closing moments. All it needs to do is make you care when they run to each other at the end and despite all the cliche that had come before, I did.

I really did.