‘Love at First Sight’ (2023) Review: The Statistical Probability of Star-Crossed Lovers
This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labour of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Adding to this year’s list of besotted romance films is Vanessa Caswill’s Love at First Sight, based on Jennifer E. Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, which is a story that relies on algorithms. It is a delightful movie that follows a young woman and a man’s chance encounter at an airport that sparks an instant connection. With a budding chemistry and a story that revolves around the ‘will-they-won’t-they?’ element, it is one of the few romantic comedies that, hopefully, doesn’t fall under the radar this year.
Hadley (Hadley Lu Richardson) is on her way to London for her father’s wedding, but she misses her flight. After booking the next flight, she meets Oliver (Ben Hardy), who is also going to London to meet his parents. They find themselves seated next to each other on the flight. But after landing at Heathrow, they became separated. Oliver shares his number, but Hadley’s phone runs out of battery before she saves it. Hadley arrives at her father’s wedding. Oliver returns home for his mother’s pre-funeral memorial, a Shakespeare-themed party. With a splash of luck and impulsive decisions, Hadley and Oliver attempt to find each other in London, regardless of the obstacles in their way.
Love at First Sight is introduced as a story of fate and statistics. It’s not a love story in the traditional sense. The narrator (played by Jameela Jamil) wears various disguises throughout the film. She helps Hadley and Oliver find each other amid the chaos. She believes that anybody’s love story starts depending on who they talk to; in the case of Hadley and Oliver, their story begins at the airport. In romantic comedies, airports are always used as a last resort for characters to run to the gate and profess their love. In this movie, love at first sight starts at the airport. The narrator points out that their destinies are forever aligned with mutual connections and somewhat cliched descriptions. They fit perfectly together! A chance encounter turns into a series of chaotic events.
However, the problem with Love at First Sight is that their time on-screen, especially at the beginning of the film is limited. Richardson and Hardy’s chemistry is everything, but that’s not the issue. After their initial talk at the airport canteen, where they shared their purpose for travel and summarised life stories, their conversations falter once they are on the plane. There’s a limited interaction between them for the rest of the movie. While this may work for some films, it’s hard to find that romantic connection portrayed smoothly on screen.
Love at First Sight is a love story that stretches across the pond. It has the potential to sweep viewers off their feet, but certain elements hold back that from happening. Another unnecessary element is the narrator, who serves as a vessel for Hadley and Oliver’s romantic connection. The revitalisation of romantic comedy is seemingly getting better, but there is work to be done.
Strike Funds: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1weorhmG1H7cszY3rGHCpNYsgleegkuOSH7rD47JzSAQ/edit
Solidarity with striking film and television workers: https://freelancesolidarity.org/wga-sag-strike-solidarity/
