LOVE ROSIE (2014)

Directed By: Christian Ditter 
Written By: Juliette Towhidi 
Based on a novel by: Cecelia Ahern  
Cinematography: Christian Rein 
Editor: Tony Cranstoun 

Cast: Lily Collins, Sam Clafin, Jamie Winstone, Christian Cooke, Suki Waterhouse, Tasmin Egerton, Jamie Beamish 


Rosie and Alex have been best friends since they were 5, so they couldn't possibly be right for one another...or could they? When it comes to love, life and making the right choices, these two are their own worst enemies.

If you are a fan of romantic comedies this film is probably right up your alley.

There is nothing technically wrong with the movie. For me who keep in mind am not the audience for this type of film my problems are more cosmetic.

As the film hits all the familiar notes but too well. It does throw a kind of shocking wrench into the works by having the female lead get pregnant immediately after high school which kind of Stunts her but allows to her to mature and makes her storyline. Have more dramatic weight and heart.

As we always know where the film is going if we don’t we know where it will end up.

One of the problems is that everyone looks way too good looking. Sam claflin looks like a male model and so does every woman he dated or marries in this film. So even when he is a teenager nervous about getting the hot girl it’s a given. Likewise when Rosie loses her virginity and dates all the guys are model handsome.

Not that she doesn’t deserve it. But while we get to know him and he is sweet, Claflin performance or his character still comes off as bland. Maybe that is what Rosie’s character needs but he doesn’t seem to be as exciting as Rosie believes him to be.

Even a weird scene and casting of Jamie Beamish as the brother of Tasmin Egerton, Alex’s wife seems strange as even his introduction is awkward as are his early scenes and he even gets his own happily ever after.

The film hits in one clever pout that Rosie actually gets a best friend as she loses Alex who up until then had been her best friend but at that point they both know they have romantic feelings for one another so they care about each other and call themselves best friends but really aren’t they have surpassed it.

The film does have numerous scenes that are comedic but while some are a bit naughty everything here is pretty lightweight.

The approach of having them always being kind of star crossed and always missing each other romantically Is original keeps it going. Though here it is played around for 12 years in the book it’s based on it’s played upon over 45 years. Glad it was shortened here.

The film begins abruptly and you piece it together later or as it goes along. As the film gets right to the point at first even though we Don’t know too much about their history that more or less plays out over the feature where we get to see  bits of information and learn more about their shared past. Half of the time only months have passed and so much happens that it feels more like years.

The leading man doesn’t feels that charming until finally the later scenes.

Lily Collins flows and glows as usual in the lead that charms and enchants the audience to always root for her and be on her side. Like a game where the participants keep missing their moments to be together that all started from a bad forgotten moment.

While the film is certainly charming and has a good cast. It’s best feature and weapon is Actress Lily Collins in the leading role of Rosie. She is almost magical in her charm, as she can be funny, sexy and dramatic all at the same time. Why she isn’t playing more leads in this type of film or others is a mystery. As really she is the only reason One will make it through the film in a positive mood. As you continuously root for her and want her character to get more that what she deserves. After continuous hardships and challenges thrown in her way.

While the film is humorous it is rarely truly actually funny. Though it is heartwarming. Other than that the film is pretty basic even in it’s soundtrack choices which seem to be whatever is popular and universally excepted and a few lily Allen tracks which I am not complaining about, but the rest of the music doesn’t seem passionate.

 Grade: C