CHENNAI: One of the hallmarks of a good movie or book is its ability to lace the structure with dramatic curves. This is even more of a necessity for a romance, and Netflix's latest foray into this genre, “Love at First Sight,” fails in this regard. Added to this is the unimaginative lighting and shots that are oh-so predictable.
Helmed by Vanessa Caswill from a screenplay by Katie Lovejoy that is based on the book penned by Jennifer E. Smith, “The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight,” the film begins with numbers. How many people fall in love at the very first sight. How many see through this and so on. But mercifully for 90 minutes, the show is okay — even sweet at times — but for the narrative flatness that might put one to sleep.
Hadley Sullivan, played by Haley Lu Richardson (last seen in “The White Lotus”) is 20, American and ready to fly to England to attend her dad's second wedding. She misses her plane and is bailed out with a business class ticket.
Waiting to get on the flight, she meets Oliver (Ben Hardy). They have coffee together, and as luck would have it, they are taking the same flight. Again as luck would have it, his economy seat belt does not work, and the stewardess upgrades him to business. Luck again, when he finds her seated next to him. Honestly, there’s a bit too much of luck but hey, this is a rom-com after all.
Richardson essays a 20-something college student she is not convincing enough to carry off. But Hardy makes up for this with his quick wit, amazing energy and suffering sorrow when he sees his mother. He is on his way to attend a condolence prayer meeting that the mother insists even though she is not yet gone. It should be noted that British star Jameela Jamil gives the work some amusing levity as the omnipresent narrator.
“Love at First Sight” is sweet but forgettable — worth an evening’s watch if you’re in the mood for a light rom-com with some emotional moments, but not worth a re-watch.
