Filmworld
Love, Rosie' - charming romantic dramedy (Movie Review)
By
By Troy RibeiroFilm: "Love, Rosie"; Cast: Lily Collins, Sam Claflin, Christian Cooke,
Suki Waterhouse, Jaime Winstone and Tamsin Egerton; Director: Christian
Ditter; Rating: **1/2
"Love, Rosie" is a frothy, run-of-the-mill, but charming romantic dramedy based on Cecelia Ahern's novel, "Where Rainbows End".
The narration literally starts off by asking the audience a rhetorical question, "What do you get when you fall in love?"
For
those who don't have an answer to the question, this film is a response
of sorts. And for those who know the answer, this is a reiteration of
events that has touched their lives at some point of time.
Narrated
in a non-linear fashion, "Love, Rosie" is the tragic saga of Rossie
Dunne (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Claflin) of how, the two inseparable
childhood friends take each other for granted and remain 'best friends
forever' and star-crossed lovers. It is after a fleeting shared moment
that they part ways. The realisation dawns that despite their flaws and
flings, they are meant for each other and fate has decided to bring them
together.
Though the eventuality is predictable, it is their
journey, packed with misunderstandings and ill-fated circumstances that
makes the viewing interesting. But then the plot loses its fortitude in
terms of logical balance of the character graphs.
Similarly, the
script emphasises heavily on dreams -- literally, as well as in terms of
ambition of both the characters. It is when Rosie's father advises her,
"There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it, so keep
chasing your dreams", the advise seems apt. But in the overall context
of the film, this message seems forced as Rosie was never fiercely
chasing her dreams or her man!
The performances of every
character are fresh and bubbly. Lily Collins as Rosie Dunne and Sam
Claflin as Alex are likeable. Their chemistry is palpable. But it is
their transition, physically and mentally, from teenagers to adults in
their early thirties that is unconvincing. Nevertheless, both of them
make a loveable pair.
They are aptly supported by Suki Waterhouse
as Bethany -- Alex's girlfriend in college, Tamsin Egerton as Alex's
sexy wife and Christian Cooke as Rosie's one night stand and a mistake,
have their moments to shine.
The humour surfs up sporadically in a
formulaic situational manner. There are precisely two memorable scenes;
both involving Rosie's sexual endeavours. These scenes induce laughter
and remain etched in your memory much after you leave the theatres.
On
the visual front, with his complex camera movement, few of director of
photography, Christian Rein's frames are worth a mention. Especially the
shot that captures a close up of a melancholic Rosie, then gradually
zooms out to capture her within the frames of the window and go beyond
that to showcase the whole house and the lane. This image metaphorically
shows Rosie's loneliness. This technique is repeated twice in the film.
The
numerous, frisky and mindless soundtracks actually add to the
frothiness of the narration. The film is worth a watch if you have
nothing better to do.