All RomComs are
about stalking on some level. Think about it. They are all about one person
pining over another person. He/she is either pursuing the other people without
that person realizing it or pursuing the other person against his/her wishes in
the hopes of changing that person's mind. Because it's a RomCom, that normally
works, but it's deeply disturbing if you look too closely at it. Think about that
sweet old couple in When Harry Met Sally. That old man didn't take 'no'
for an answer and broke his future wife down. It seems to have worked out, but
that kind of move in today's climate would (and arguably should) get that man
crucified. You can apply logic like this to nearly every RomCom and ruin the
whole genre.
I love RomComs
though, and I can't help it. I realize that they are escapism, not real life.
That's why it's nice when a movie like When We First Met abandons all
preconceptions about reality. I'm never going to find a time-traveling photo
booth that gives me a chance to try again with the one who got away, so I don't
have to worry about the mixed messages built into that conceit. For that
matter, I don't even have a one that got away, so these movies are pure fantasy
for me to begin with. I suppose you could say I'm a glutton for regret, which
explains the appeal of movies like this and About Time, or even
high school coming-of-age movies. I'm a big fan of being able to ask "I
wonder what would've happened if...?", even though I realize that wrecks
havoc on my mental well-being.
Enough about my
fragile psyche though.
When We First Met is exactly the
movie I expected. Noah (Adam Devine) spends a great night with Avery (Alexandra
Daddario) and gets friend-zoned hard when he waited too long to make a move.
Years later, on the eve of her marriage, he gets a chance to keep reliving that
first night and see how things change years later. You can imagine all the
iterations of this and how none of them work out like he hopes. You can either
guess how this ends 20 minutes into the movie or, like me, you are able to turn
your brain off enough to let it surprise you despite the obviousness. Either
way, it's more fun to watch it than to have me spell it out.
Adam Devine
fascinates me. Like, what is his ideal role? He has that perfect everyman look
where he's fairly handsome but you don't think about it. He looks like the kind
of guy who could believably get someone out of his league (i.e. he's slightly
better looking than the Apatow-ian lead). He also really likes being weird. Not
Paul Rudd or Jon Hamm weird, where it's used to offset their looks. Weird for
weird's sake. He works in a supporting role in Pitch Perfect
and also a lead role in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. I'm not
sure where he's optimal. He works well for this movie though. His chemistry
with Avery's best friend, Carrie (Shelley Hennig) is especially charming and
easy. Hennig fits into a comedy better than I would've expected given her Teen
Wolf and teen horror filmography I like that Alexandra Daddario really
wants to make comedy work. She's shown up in small roles in a number of
sitcoms. Her recent filmography includes movies like Baywatch
and The Layover that don't quite work, despite considerable effort.
Given that Avery is more of an object than a person in this, her effort is
enough. Comedy is about putting in the reps, and she's doing that.
I can attach no
superlatives to When We First Met. It's not the funniest or the
cleverest execution of this basic idea. It's ably cast. I found it charming and
easy to watch. I don't see it changing anyone's mind about RomComs.
Verdict (?): Weakly Recommend
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