LET’S LOVE Takes a Stellar Cast on a Forgettable Journey

Introduction

Filmmaker Jamie Adams (She is Love, Pose) is back with his newest ensemble rom-com, Let’s Love. The film is an improvisational exploration of the complications of love, friendship, fame, personas, and relevancy. Shot in a handheld style that captures the authenticity of the performances in picaresque Wales, it is a small film with a big heart.

Synopsis

A bit of a Welsh take on America’s Sweethearts, the film follows the writer, director, and stars of the fictional moderate hit film “Don’t Delete the Kisses,” reuniting for the tenth anniversary of their achievement. Male lead Jackson (Josh Hutcherson) has since married the film’s director, Andrea (Malin Akerman). Meanwhile, his costar Jessica (Jess Weixler) and screenwriter Nigel (Martin Freeman) have remained single.

Upon arriving at the hotel for the 10th Anniversary celebration, they are shocked to learn that zero tickets had been sold for the event due to a booking error and confusion between the months of September and December. Rather than let the trip be a total bust, they decide to use the opportunity to regroup and develop a sequel to “Don’t Delete the Kisses.” The hotel, however, has no rooms, and they end up being rescued by a seemingly kind couple who offer up their bed-and-breakfast. This turns out to be the house used to film the original movie ten years earlier.

Over the course of their stay, romances are rekindled and reevaluated, secrets are revealed, and masculine rivalry is mined for comic relief. Hutcherson, Ackerman, Freeman, and newcomer Weixler all do wonderful work onscreen. Their characters are constantly forced to navigate the mercurial natures of one another and themselves. In the opening credits of the film, it mentions that it was written by Jamie Adams with “Additional Material by THE CAST.” This implies that improvisation and experimentation were welcomed on the set.

Discussion

Freeman’s Nigel is much like the actor often is in these sorts of comedies. He’s meek, quick to apologize, internalizes his anguish, and lets it out in small spurts of passive-aggression. Ackerman’s typical cool grace is undercut by her character’s inability to quite understand her husband after eight years of marriage. Hutcherson is quite funny in the film, particularly when we learn his character’s anchor phrase for the accent he uses when he plays Mike in “Don’t Delete the Kisses.” Weixler is charming, spritely, and easy to love.

Conclusion

There are a few sight gags (and one missed opportunity for a sight gag involving a set of stairs and a hasty exit), more than a few misunderstandings, and a scene-stealing Zoom appearance from Dermot Mulroney as the producer of the film, Jerry. However, ultimately, the film is forgettable. I watched it yesterday to sit on it for a few hours. When I woke up today, I had to struggle to remember how it ended.

This is not to say that the film is not a fun ride, particularly if you enjoy these actors as much as I do. But the film doesn’t leave a lasting impression. Let’s just say I don’t know how many tickets they’ll sell for the tenth anniversary celebration of Let’s Love.

Let’s Love is currently available for rent or purchase on major streaming platforms.

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