This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Netflix has an abundance of rom-coms, but the amount of unique and touching romantic comedies is scarce. Many fall into the usual pattern (boy meets girl – fall in love – obstacles get in their way – they overcome them – happily ever after), making them predictable. While Love at First Sight uses that same mould, the latest movie by Vanessa Caswill (A Fairytale of the City) feels fresh, adorable and charming.
“It’s not a story about love, but about fate”. The narrator (Jameela Jamil), who keeps appearing in many different, funny personas, tells us this movie is unlike any other rom-com you’ve seen or heard. That is unless you’ve already read Jennifer E. Smith’s novel The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight, which this film is based on. The premise is quite basic and straightforward. Hadley Sullivan (Haley Lu Richardson), an American girl, meets Oliver (Ben Hardy), a British boy, at the airport. She should have been on an earlier flight, but she’s now taking the same flight as him from New York City to London due to her tardiness. They have differences – she’s never on time, and he plans his life meticulously because he fears surprises and uncertainty – but they hit it off.
During that six-hour flight, they fall in love. Something that wouldn’t have happened if Hadley hadn’t been late or if Oliver didn’t have to change seats because of a broken seatbelt. You will instantly root for them to be together, but their romance might be short-lived. The lovebirds become separated after landing, and due to Hadley’s clumsiness, she can’t find Oliver’s number in her phone. Both are not giving up on each other as they try to reach one another. Will they reconnect, or does fate have other plans?
While Love at First Sight’s plot is pretty basic, it’s effective because of its relatability. Other Hollywood rom-coms feel alienated because our lives will never be like what we see on-screen. However, seeing Hadley and Oliver, two ordinary people, falling in love feels close to home, as it could happen to anyone. Both characters also have to deal with family problems we can relate to. Hadley has a complicated relationship with her father (charmingly portrayed by Rob Delaney) after he divorced her mother. On the other hand, Oliver has to deal with his mother, Tessa (the excellent Sally Phillips takes on this emotional role beautifully), not wanting to have treatment for her cancer. Sadly, we all know someone who faces the big C and/or family issues.
Because of those emotional topics, you might wipe a tear away occasionally, but that’s also due to the incredible performances by Richardson and Hardy. The dialogue by Katie Lovejoy (To All the Boys: Always and Forever) doesn’t ooze creativity, so the actors must do the heavy lifting. They must convince us that their attraction to each other is genuine and their love honest. And luckily for Caswill, they succeed in that.
Richardson (Five Feet Apart) delivers a charming, down-to-earth performance and is the absolute queen in delivering dry, self-critical humour. You don’t see that type of humour often in rom-coms, so it certainly brings something new to the genre. Her shyness during flirting is impeccable, and unless you have bucketloads of self-confidence, you know exactly how that feels. In front of her is the irresistible Oliver, with his sheepish smiles and piercing gazes. Hardy is best known for his roles in Bohemian Rhapsody and EastEnders, but he could be Hollywood’s next heartthrob if he wants to and can keep his British accent.
No matter how heartwarming the scenes are between Richardson and Hardy, the emotional moments are the ones during the living memorial held for Tessa. The broad and creative Shakespearean theme, the sweet performances by Phillips (Blood Shed) and Dexter Fletcher (Rocketman) as her husband, Val, and the bright, rich colour palette by cinematographer Luke Bryant (The Fall) ensure that Love at First Sight transcends itself. Another aspect that ensures this feature becomes much more than the usual Netflix rom-com is the narrator. Played perfectly by Jamil (Marry Me), the narrator is like the leads’ fairy godmother who pushes them in the right direction and guides us throughout their love story.
The biggest portion of the plot is predictable, but it doesn’t take away the joy, happiness and sadness you feel when watching this movie. The chemistry between the actors and the characters’ authenticity turn the simple romance into a special, adorable film.
Love at First Sight will be available on Netflix from the 15th of September.
The biggest portion of the plot is predictable, but it doesn’t take away the joy, happiness and sadness you feel when watching this movie. The chemistry between the actors and the characters’ authenticity turn the simple romance into a special, adorable film.
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Subtitle translator by day. Film journalist by night.
