LOVE AGAIN – “A 90s Rom-Com throwback with little to add to the genre”
RATING
DIRECTOR
Directed by: James C. Strouse
MAIN CAST
• Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mira Ray
• Sam Heughan as Rob Burns
• Celine Dion as herself
• Russell Tovey as Billy
SYNOPSIS
It is an English-language remake of the 2016 German film SMS für Dich, itself based on a novel by Sofie Cramer.
Mira Ray, who is struggling to cope with the death of her fiancé, unintentionally sends a sequence of romantic messages to his old cell phone number, which has been reassigned to Rob Burns' new work phone. As a journalist, Rob is drawn to the candidness in Mira's beautifully written texts.
REVIEW SUMMARY
A 90s Rom-Com throwback with little to add to the genre, Love Again is pretty forgettable romantic fare. For one, the set-up is as contrived as they come. It’s really hard to buy into, and sadly, the “believability” factor never improves as the film goes on. There’s also the curious case of Celine Dion’s inclusion here. It’s fine, I guess, but it all feels like a Celine commercial of sorts. Plus, if the singer’s interactions with the characters seems a little off, it’s because she was never in the same room with them while filming (despite the opposite on screen). Yes, editing tricks and CGI were used to bring them together. But, perhaps the biggest sin in Love Again is the lack of chemistry between our 2 leads, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Sam Heughan. Maybe it’s not necessarily heir fault though, as they do spend half the movie in a one-way conversation. But, credit does need to be given to the filmmakers for their respectable effort in addressing the mourning process and the reality of such complicatedly sad situations. There’s tenderness there, and it’s certainly handled with care. Now, if only the same care was leveraged for the rest of the film…
BOX OFFICE TOP 5
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