Aaron's Thoughts
I personally think that they should just cast Zoey Deutch in every movie.
I was a bit annoyed at first by the constant references to the greatest rom-coms of all time (it gives off the impression that the screenplay is trying a bit too hard). But as you wade further into the story and move past the subpar first act, it isn’t afraid to break form and become its own thing. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of tropes to go around, but there is just enough nuance and sincerity in how it’s told that everything feels fully earned by the time you get to the end.
It’s all anchored by one of the best performances of Deutch’s career. I’m in the bag for everything she does (not hyperbole when I say she’s my favorite actress) but few directors have understood what she brings to the screen like Leah McKendrick does. She lets Deutch flex her sad girl energy in the right spots but then constantly flips back and forth between that, her comedic chops, and her signature goofy energy. Far too many directors lean into one or the other without trying to mix and match enough to truly showcase her range.
The film is definitely not a Megan Ryan rom-com that it evokes by name multiple times throughout the film, but I do think Zoey Deutch is my generations Meg Ryan. And I think that’s a fun meta read on the movie being as winky as it is with the genre.
