‘I Love You Forever’ Review – An Honest Yet Inconsistent Look At Love And Relationships

Dating in the 21st century is complex, and romance is another headache. The idea of settling down, let alone finding the perfect partner, seems almost foreign, if not unobtainable. Movies paint a picture of a whirlwind romance, the iconic boy-meet-girl construct. Yet, what we know is truth is stranger, if not more accurate, than fiction. I Love You Forever does its part to illuminate this reality. Is true love real, or is it only for the movies? The film partly answers this question with a somewhat cynical and heartbreaking response. There is a charm in the performances, but ultimately, this film leaves you dispirited and drained.

The dating landscape is as dark as night for Mackenzie (Sofia Black-D’Elia), a law student. Her brushes with love and romance have been fleeting at best. An expert at the hook-up scene and non-commital relationships, she zoned on the prospect of a storybook romance. However, when she meets Finn (Ray Nicholson), her stock in love sees a rise. Mr. Wonderful, it seems, is everything she ever wanted, and at last, true love is within her reach, yet, during the honeymoon phase, Mackenzie is forced to reckon whether this love story right out of the movies is too good to be true. 

From the film’s start, there is an inherent design to inject cynicism into the characters’ lives. Particularly when it comes to Mackenzie, sarcasm and sardonic wit are her bread and butter. The soapy, almost Gossip Girl tenor of the drama is compelling. These stories are generally presented as one-sided or overcompensated in either the swooning or heartbreak. Here, the film gives us an intimate look at the perfect imperfect relationship.

As expected, Finn and the whirlwind romance Mackenzie finds herself in are too good to be true. Slowly, cracks emerge, and Finn is far from Mr. Wonderful. From an acting standpoint, Black-D’Elia is compelling, and mainly, Nicholson delivers a raw look at the driver behind a toxic relationship. Much of the film dedicates itself to Mackenize’s reckoning of whether or not she is to blame for the state of the relationship or if it is a case of too good to be true. 

The latter is the ultimate answer: where the film arrives. It undoubtedly succeeds at enveloping the story with frustration, disappointment, and resignation. This is not a happy-go-lucky rom-com, much as a sweeping romance. The story is subversive. Phrases like “I love you forever” have new meanings and become part of the toxicity that the movie is commenting on. 

Finn perpetrates a toxic relationship. His storyline illustrates the fragility of the male ego while gaslighting Mackenize. The movie is not quite poking fun at films like The Notebook but is attempting to spotlight the absurdity of the perfect couple and the storybook romance. Many ideas are working in film; the challenge is the ultimate execution. 

As the audience, we are never given enough insight into Mackenzie and Finn’s story. Their dynamic is much less reacting than merely acting as if it were a dramatization or even a teen soap opera. That is not to say the film has no merit because there is a serious effort to deconstruct relationships and dating in the 21st century. 

The problem lies with the characterizations. Mackenzie and Finn are never more than mere composites, acting out the drama of the situation. While the performances are at least compelling, the story is far too shallow to give us any real depth. It ultimately comes off as a cliche, almost becoming a meta-commentary on what the film is trying to spotlight. I Love You Forever has something to say about relationships but can never fully articulate its words or meaning in a way that resonates beyond the surface expression.  

A better emphasis on characterization and spinning out of the film’s ideas might have arrived at a more cohesive picture. The film shines with strong performances but leaves us feeling neither inspired nor fully engaged. 

I Love You Forever is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Utopia. The film will be available on Digital platforms on February 14, 2025.