Isn't It Romantic

Hi, everybody. So, as you are all very aware, we are living in some strange, frightening times right about now. The COVID-19 chaos has all forced us into isolation, causing many public venues to close, like movie theaters. And because of that, we cannot go out to the theaters to see new films until whole mess blows over…if it ever does blow over anyway.

So, here’s what I’m gonna do; I’m gonna be taking a look at some films I missed out on last year that are now available on multiple streaming services, such HBO, Starz, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, and Netflix. Maybe I’ll even be going over some shows, like The Mandalorian and even Westworld. With that said, let’s all try to get through this chaos together, OK?

Now, the first film I will be reviewing is Isn’t It Romantic, which is the kind of film that has been absent from theaters for quite a while now: the modestly-budgeted, supernatural romantic comedy. However, the unique hook this time around was that it was a romcom that was commenting on the romcom genre, an idea that intrigued me since…*sigh*…I’m one of those guys who loves watching romantic comedies. Yeah, I said it. Now, that doesn’t mean I overlook some of the major flaws in the genre, but yeah, any time something like Notting Hill or The Holiday comes on, you’ll find me there watching it with unironic enjoyment. So, how does this film measure up in terms of commenting on the romcom genre? Well, let’s find out.

Our story concerns Rebel Wilson as Natalie, a cynical architect whom everyone seems to love taking advantage of, that is except for her best friend Josh (Adam Devine) and her assistant Whitney (Betty Gilpin), who loves watching romantic comedies, the kinds of films that Natalie just cannot get into as she finds them utterly unrealistic. But after a mugging results in her getting knocked unconscious, she wakes up in a bright, upbeat, upscale environment where Whitney is now her enemy, everyone adores her, and anytime it looks like she’s about to drop an F-bomb, she is conveniently interrupted by a car honking or something of the like. She quickly surmises that she is in a PG-13 romcom and must find a way to get back home, all the while falling for a hunk billionaire played by Liam Hemsworth, who may be the key to her getting home.

The one criticism that I will levy against this movie is that its script – penned by Erin Cardillo, Dana Fox, and Katie Silberman from a story by Cardillo - sometimes succumbs to what can be called the “Enchanted Problem”, where the satire is way goofier than anything we’ve actually seen from the genre it’s mocking. I mean, sometimes it gets it right on the money, such as a running joke where anytime Natalie tries to have sex with Hemsworth’s character, it cuts away to a shot of her in bed, or whenever she tries to drop the “F” bomb. But then, you’ll have scenes like where Adam Devine’s character meets up with a potential romantic interest played by Priyanka Chopra, and it plays out more like something from the fifties than any recent romcom.

That said, the rest of the film is an absolute riot. Rebel Wilson is more than game as the cynical, fish-out-of-water Natalie, Hemsworth is hilarious as the overly in-love romantic interest in the fantasy world, and Adam Devine is also convincing as Natalie’s best friend, who of course is in love with her because, y’know, romcom. I love how director Todd Strauss-Schulson and DP Simon Duggan transition from a handheld, grey-palette for the real-world scenes to a more stably-shot and brightly color-corrected look for the fantastical scenes, evoking the look of many romcoms. The same goes for the score by John Debney, who brings all of his previous romcom chops to the table here.

What I love most about this film, though, is its final message about self-acceptance, and that is all I am going to say about it because it really is something you must experience for yourself.

So, yeah. That’s all I have to say about Isn’t It Romantic. Very good romcom, great performance by Rebel Wilson. Definitely check it out on HBO.