Cinema Scholars offers the final installment of our coverage from the SXSW Film & TV Festival 2026, taking a look at three very different romantic comedies: The Sun Never Sets, Chasing Summer, and Love Language.
Introduction
I’ve always felt somewhat ambivalent about romantic comedies. They’re rarely my first choice when I sit down to watch a movie. That said, SXSW had other plans for me this year, and I found myself watching three of them. Each film has its strengths, and each makes some curious—sometimes frustrating—choices. While I found things to enjoy in all three, only two ultimately worked for me as complete films.
The Sun Never Sets
Written and directed by Joe Swanberg and starring Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson, and Cory Michael Smith, The Sun Never Sets is a thoughtful, quietly engaging relationship drama wrapped in rom-com clothing.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Alaska, the film is visually stunning. Swanberg leans into natural beauty and emotional intimacy in a way that immediately calls to mind his series Easy. In fact, this could easily play as an extended, more cinematic episode of that show.
Wendy (Fanning) is in a relationship with Jack (Johnson), a divorced father of two who has no interest in marriage or more children. Before things get too serious, Jack suggests that Wendy explore other options to ensure he’s truly what she wants. It’s a request that feels as strange to the audience as it does to Wendy, but she reluctantly agrees. Not long after, she reconnects with her old flame Chuck (Smith), who represents everything Jack is not.
From there, the film becomes an exploration of emotional uncertainty, timing, and the complicated questions we ask ourselves when love doesn’t fit neatly into expectations. Swanberg excels at writing relationships that feel lived-in and authentic. The dialogue is natural, the situations believable, and the emotional beats land more often than not.
Dakota Fanning delivers a grounded, quietly powerful performance. You can see Wendy processing her feelings in real time, even when she doesn’t want to admit what she already knows.
That said, Jack’s motivations remain a sticking point. His decision to push Wendy away feels more like a narrative device than a believable emotional choice, and it lingers throughout the film in a way that can be distracting. Additionally, while much of the journey works, the final scene doesn’t quite earn the resolution it seems to be reaching for.
Still, The Sun Never Sets is a solid, character-driven film that succeeds more often than it stumbles.
Chasing Summer
Written by and starring comedian Iliza Shlesinger and directed by Josephine Decker, Chasing Summer is the biggest surprise of the three.
Jamie (Shlesinger) is a disaster relief worker drifting from crisis to crisis with her boyfriend Aaron, who appears to bankroll much of their lifestyle. When Aaron abruptly leaves her for someone else, her life quickly unravels. With nowhere else to go, Jamie returns to her small Texas hometown, moves back in with her mother (Megan Mullally), and takes a job at her sister Marissa’s roller-skating rink.
From there, the film leans into familiar rom-com territory: reconnecting with old friends, confronting unresolved relationships, and reexamining the choices that led her away in the first place. This includes her high school boyfriend Chase (Tom Welling), whose past actions still cast a long shadow.
What elevates Chasing Summer is how grounded it feels. Shlesinger, a Texas native, nails the tone and texture of small-town life. Nothing feels exaggerated or artificial. The humor is present but never overwhelming, and the sweetness never becomes saccharine. Most importantly, the emotional beats feel honest.
The performances across the board are strong. Tom Welling shines in a role that allows him to step beyond the shadow of Smallville. Cassidy Freeman continues to prove she can elevate any project she’s in, and Megan Mullally brings just the right balance of warmth and bite.
The film does feature a somewhat predictable twist, but what matters is how it’s handled—and here, Chasing Summer gets it right. The resolution feels earned, genuine, and emotionally satisfying.
This is the kind of movie that sneaks up on you: funny, heartfelt, and refreshingly sincere. Of the three films, this is the one that works best as a complete package—and it has strong date-night potential.
Love Language
Written and directed by Joel Power, Love Language is the most traditional romantic comedy of the group—for better and for worse.
Lou (Chloë Grace Moretz) is a marketing writer and aspiring YA author reeling from a broken engagement. Struggling to process the breakup, she channels her emotions into writing wedding vows for her friend Tilda (Billie Lourd). What begins as a favor unexpectedly turns into a profitable side business, leading her to a new client, Olivia, who introduces Lou to her fiancé Warren (Manny Jacinto)—who also happens to be Lou’s college flame.
At the same time, Lou begins a new relationship with the charming and emotionally open Dash (Anthony Ramos), who quickly falls hard for her. Lou, however, finds herself caught between past and present, unable—or unwilling—to fully commit to either.
There’s a lot to like here. The supporting cast is excellent. Billie Lourd and Lukas Gage bring energy and humor as Lou’s friends, and Anthony Ramos is genuinely terrific as Dash, providing much of the film’s emotional weight. Manny Jacinto is solid as well, though it’s hard not to see flashes of Jason from The Good Place.
The film hits most of the expected rom-com beats and does so competently. It’s familiar, comfortable, and at times genuinely engaging.
Unfortunately, the central performance doesn’t quite land. It’s difficult to connect with Moretz in this role. Lou is meant to be heartbroken and emotionally adrift, but what comes across instead feels more petulant than vulnerable. Even more problematic, there’s little to no chemistry between her and either of the male leads. Her scenes with Ramos, in particular, feel awkward when they should serve as the film’s emotional core.
Because of that, Love Language never fully comes together. There’s a good movie here—you can see it in the supporting performances and overall structure—but the lack of a compelling center ultimately holds it back.
Final Thoughts
Three romantic comedies. Three very different experiences.
The Sun Never Sets offers thoughtful, character-driven storytelling with a few frustrating missteps.
Chasing Summer delivers the most complete and emotionally satisfying film of the group.
Love Language has all the right ingredients but struggles to bring them together.
Even for someone who doesn’t typically gravitate toward the genre, this was a worthwhile journey. It’s a reminder that romantic comedies, when they work, can be just as compelling and nuanced as any other genre. And when they don’t… well, you might still find something worth holding onto.
Read more Cinema Scholars festival coverage!
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