Netflix’s latest coming-of-age dramedy follows a young woman who takes a pregnancy test the night of her college graduation. From there, the film follows two separate timelines: one in which the test is negative, and in the other, it is positive. Although Natalie faces many challenges and set backs across both timelines, both ultimately lead her right where she needs to be.

Premise

The film tackles a plot device that I haven’t seen utilized since I watched the Gwyneth Paltrow film, Sliding Doors. While I’m sure other films have utilized the separate timelines/separate realities plot point to show the various paths a character could take, I really love the way it was utilized here.

College friends, Natalie (Lili Reinhart) and Gabe (Danny Ramirez) hook up as their college days end and one night, while at a party, Natalie decides to take a pregnancy test. From there, the film splits into two separate timelines. In timeline 1, Natalie isn’t pregnant and moves to California with her friend Cara (Aisha Dee) to pursue a career in animation. She deals with her difficult boss, Lucy Galloway (Nia Long) and enjoys a workplace romance with Jake (David Corenswet).

In timeline 2, Natalie is pregnant, and with Gabe’s support, decides to keep the baby. She moves back in with her less than thrilled parents (Andrea Savage and Luke Wilson) and decides to put her dreams on hold as she dedicates herself to raising her daughter. Natalie spends most of her time in this timeline agonizing over whether she and Gabe should be together, while also trying to figure out a route to her dreams.

Cast & Characters

I can’t praise Lili Reinhart’s portrayal of both versions of Natalie enough. It almost feels like there are two movies playing out at once, and essentially, that’s what happening. She portrays Natalie as a fiercely devoted mother who puts her child first and in the other timeline, as an ambitious aspiring animator who won’t take no for an answer. Both version of the character are inspiring.

In the baby timeline, Ramirez portrays Gabe as a devoted father and someone who is obviously in love with Natalie. He’s what any woman would want if she found out she was pregnant at twenty-two years old. Gabe is thoughtful, sweet, and would do anything for his little family. Ramirez portrays the character very well.

Corenswet does an excellent job as Natalie’s boyfriend, Jake, in the baby-less timeline. He is funny, supportive and loving, but has ambitions of his own. Fortunately, the film doesn’t have him do anything cliché like cheat on her or betray her at work. He has his own goals, but he does love Natalie. It’s adorable and Corenswet is swoon worthy in the role.

Wilson and Savage as Natalie’s supportive parents, in both timelines, are entertaining and perfectly portray parents who are rooting for their child and helping them move forward no matter what happens.

Nia Long and Aisha Dee both do great jobs in their respective roles as Natalie’s boss and best friend.

Final Thoughts

Although the story in aspirational, it falters by not acknowledging the inherent privilege of Natalie’s situation. She’s an upper middle class, young white woman who graduated from a good school, and has parents who are reluctant, but supportive of her decision to raise her baby and a baby daddy who is completely in love with her. Would the film have been more interesting if Natalie was forced to move in with Gabe, who spent more time working on his music career than helping her raise their child? Absolutely.

Does Natalie getting her webcomic and short film accepted to South By Southwest in the respective timelines seem very unlikely? Absolutely.

Be that as it may, the film is decent and it was nice to see Reinhart breakaway from her Riverdale role and grow as both an actress and businesswoman in the film industry. She served as an executive producer on the film, and I definitely praise her for expanding her roles and titles within the film industry.

If you can get past the insane privilege of the lead character, Look Both Ways is an entertaining post-college drama/comedy about finding your way to your dreams no matter what road blocks life throws in your way.

Look Both Ways is currently available to stream on Netflix.