Film Review: Love Wedding Repeat Is Random, Rom-Com Fun
The premise of Love Wedding Repeat, coming out April 10 on Netflix, is surprisingly philosophical and cosmic. It runs on the idea that life is just a crazy game of chance, and all your choices either close or open the door to opportunity, which, in essence, makes sense. Yet, even the choice to not say hi and introduce yourself to someone could be the very choice blocking you from your love story. Isn’t that romantic? Welp, Love Wedding Repeat has plenty “what ifs?” doused in between a series of comedic mishaps that are both random and raucous.
The biggest issue for Love Wedding Repeat is also why you like it: there is a lot to follow. There are several characters; each going through their own existential crisis and a time loop of choices. In a way, Love Wedding Repeat feels like the rom-com version Bandersnatch, except Stefan CAN have a happy ending. (I’m still depressed about that Black Mirror Episode!) In this version, Sam Claflin’s Jack is our Stefan; a sweet guy who does not seem to have enough luck or peace to approach the cool Dina (played by Olivia Munn): whole he met three years ago on a trip to Rome and has never forgotten her. Wondering “what if?” he is happy to see her her at his sister Hayley’s wedding, but he has a million situations to calm before he can even converse with her.
Love Wedding Repeat | Official Trailer | Netflix
Claflin is able to anchor the story enough to where you feel like, amongst the sea of misadventures, he is the hero you follow. You join him as he avoids his ex, Amanda (played like a Queen Bee by Freida Pinto), and he stops the inebriated Marc (Jack Farthing) from ruining his bright, bubbly sister’s day, Hayley (played brilliantly by Eleanor Tomlinson). All while trying to help his sullen, but witty friend Bryan (Joel Fry) avoid an existential crisis so he can, potentially, fall in love with the hilarious, snarky Rebecca (Aisling Bea). Oh, and there is a time loop that shows you all the alternative situations and endings that would have spurred had other character’s choices been made. So…. yeah…. there is a lot to follow, but writer and director Dean Craig gives enough good conversations and connections between characters so that, even if you get lost, you are still happy you came to the wedding.
Just in that description above, you can see there is a very Shakespearean, As You Like It vibe rolled into a Love, Actually montage of mishaps and missed chances. This film, in many ways, feels like a modern, but elegant British turn to the “Missed Connections” section of Craiglist; you watch a series of stories of people that met and affected each other versus the affects of them not meeting. It is beautiful concept that IS NOT easy to pull, but, at the very least, Craig’s film keeps you pulled in with its laughs.
