This charming romance seems to give a nod to rom coms of the 90s, like Notting Hill or Four Weddings and a Funeral, while remaining entirely contemporary. Love at First Sight also offers one of the more positive portrayals out there of intelligent and mature Gen Z college students.
With a near permanent smile and wry delivery, Richardson (The White Lotus) is a delight as Hadley. Hardy (Bohemian Rhapsody) gives a gentle performance as a high-achieving math nerd but also a vulnerable and gentlemanly romantic interest. Stunning Jamil (The Good Place) strikes a comic tone as narrator and chameleonic fairy godmother in a role that could have come across as hokey or heavy-handed in less poised hands.
Based on a popular YA novel, the story also benefits from its locations – JFK airport, a trans-Atlantic flight, and romantic locales in London. Not since Say Anything has there been such a tender fear-of-flying scene on an airplane. Another near-kiss moment by the lavatories is made additionally evocative by an acoustic version of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” accompanying it.
There are a couple of plot twists that keep you guessing, though it’s pretty clear from the start that the two leads have found a soul mate, which only makes you root for them more. Director Caswill resists the temptation to make this a cat-and-mouse affair, allowing the star-crossed lovers to dig deeper than first attraction in a short amount of time.
Images courtesy of Netflix.
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