Amour, rupture et littérature

7.7 stars.

I was genuinely moved by the narrative of this film. The performances felt authentic and new, and it's a surprise I hadn't stumbled upon it earlier; it served as a delightful diversion for the day. The plot centers around a romance novelist grappling with a year-long writer's block, facing the imminent threat of being replaced by fresher talent by his publisher. However, a junior editor, who harbors a genuine admiration for his work, steps in to defend him, securing him a chance to prove himself again with a tight deadline looming.

The clash of expectations arises when she discovers the novelist is not the romantic hero she imagined, but rather a disheveled and uninspired man with a disdain for romance. Their conflicting views on love immediately ignite tension, especially given her engagement to an ostensibly charming Englishman. Yet, as the audience, we can sense his lack of depth and sincerity.

The film is punctuated with tearful moments, underscored by a soundtrack that resonates deeply with the audience's emotions. The undeniable chemistry between the lead actors makes this film a standout, compelling viewers to experience it firsthand.

FYI: I used AI to write this review. I just write some rough draft (which is totally unpolished and dreary) and the AI pumps out this much better version. I suppose it lacks some personality, but at least what I'm trying to convey is a bit more clear.

A romance writer with writer's block is a well worn trope. A professionally minded editor working with someone a bit lazy or playboy has been done also. And I have a hard time getting to like said playboy as a lead.

Even so, I was looking forward to seeing where this would go.

Unfortunately, sticking the second couple's story in takes screen time away from the main relationship. Throw in the time spent on the fiancé and setting up that whole story line and it bleeds even more time away. It feels like this was done because the main couple's story wasn't very deep, and it wasn't. If the heroine is going to make a bold decision then I want to see why. Telling why was too squeezed in.

If you categorize the ending into a trope which is also well known, without spoiling exactly what it was, I am definitely not a fan of that particular trope. The attempt to justify it was also weak.

Taking out the second couple to focus more on the main storyline would help this movie a lot. Show me more of Michael and Dori doing more than writing and editing.

'Mr Write' (2016)

Opening thoughts: Have liked Charlotte Sullivan and Corey Sevier in other things, though neither are favourites of mine. The romance centered around books setting has been done to death and well before 'Mr Write' existed, but it has been done very well many times so it is a setting that has been known to work. Have always liked romance and there are plenty of films that do comedy well, and also plenty that mix both romance and comedy very well (though romcom is not an easy type of film to pull off).

'Mr Write' doesn't really pull it off regrettably. It is worth a one time watch as a curio, but there are a lot of drawbacks and all of them too significant to ignore. There are definitely far worse films in existence, of this type and in general, but 'Mr Write' doesn't really do anything with its setting or with a premise that did sound quite cute on paper. Predictability wouldn't have been too big an issue for me, as long as the film still manages to be interesting. Which is why the film fails.

Good things: Sullivan is engaging and has a very charming presence. There are moments of spark in the secondary subplot, which is a little better than the main one.

It looks quite nice, especially the scenery.

Bad things: Sevier however is rather wooden and was in real need of a lighten up. He has no chemistry with Sullivan, which makes the romance completely passionless and without charm. Also felt that their story was somewhat underused, with the secondary subplot being favoured too much. So much so it would be easy to mistake it for the main one. And also very underwritten, with no real development or progression, whenever there is any signs of them it occurs quite late and treated too insignificantly. The supporting cast are at best forgettable and didn't really care for any of the characters, particularly Sevier's who was very dull and dour.

Did feel that 'Mr Write' failed in the romance and comedy. The former because of the lack of chemistry and that no love or charm is really felt. And the latter because there is too little of it in the first place and what little there is lacks wit and never reaches mildly amusing. The story is predictable throughout, especially in the over neat final act, and too often too thin, with too often a going through the motions feel. Which really affects the pacing, which is sluggish. The direction is routine and the music never really fits or stands out.

Closing thoughts: Concluding, rather weak.

3/10.