Stay the Night

This is my first review ever and I'm dedicating it to Stay The Night hoping it will add some boost to this cute Canadian film. I stumbled upon it on Crave while flipping channels. I'm glad I'm one of the few who still has cable because I don't think I would have found it otherwise lol. I just couldn't stop watching and am now low key obsessed with it!

It's a film about 2 "damaged" people (aren't we all?) who met at the lowest points in their lives. It was definitely kismet since they were people who probably would never have met otherwise. The actors did a phenomenal job with the roles. Everything just felt real - from the conversations to the progression of the relationship. The actions/reactions were relatable. The chemistry between Grace & Carter was palpable. The actors, Andrea & Joe, became the characters they were portraying.

Of course the director/writer, Reynuka Jeyapalan, is the main reason this movie is great. The story wasn't complicated yet meaningful. The script had a natural flow. As a Torontonian, I knew right away that it was set in the city and I loved trying to figure out the locations. She highlighted all the things I love about Toronto - the diverse people, unpretentious places, and deep love for hockey (well not me but my husband is a die hard fan of the sport).

I haven't felt this way about a movie in a while. I highly recommend! Critics compare it to Before Sunrise but I actually enjoyed this way more since the characters felt more relatable to me. Yes, it's a romantic movie but it's also just about connecting with another person and taking that leap.

Loved this fresh take on a romcom format that both incorporates what we love best but also elevates the form with real characters and complex story. Saw it in Toronto and also had fun playing 'spot the location' with beautiful views of the city and nice location choices. Good chemistry between the actors and especially enjoyed the performance by Andrea Bang whose grappling with her reserve and emotional sides seemed very real and relatable. Ending had just enough surprise in it to keep me guessing yet still be satisfied. Already recommended to my fellow romcom friends and looking forward to sharing the link when it streams.

A story of two people whose paths cross after each has had a life-changing day. They "meet cute" and spend a memorable, adventuresome night on the town (Toronto) helping each other get perspective. Seems like a setup and there's undeniable chemistry, but Stay the Night doesn't follow the path you might expect. Highly recommended!

I saw this movie via the SXSW Film Festival online, and it might have been even more interesting to see it with an audience.

I stumbled across this movie late one night and was thoroughly obsessed until it ended at 3am. I recognized Andrea Bang from Kim's Convenience, but Joe Scarpellino is new to me. Both were perfectly natural and comfortably uncomfortable in their roles as two lonely young souls facing the daunting uncertainty of existence in our modern world. The sparks fly as they find an unlikely friendship in each other.

Stay The Night is sweet without being sappy. You feel the very genuine chemistry and affection between the leads despite the story maintaining a realistic take on dating and hook-up culture. The plot is largely driven by dialogue and we slowly learn about and warm up to the characters as they do with each other. Some might find this type of film a bore, but this is the kind of romance that I live for. Their feelings develop out of their mutual curiosity to know each other as people, rather than the usual trope where characters form a bond due to being thrown at each other as a result of implausible circumstances and crazy escapades.

As an Asian woman, it's always heartening to see another Asian woman represented as a main character. The director, Renuka Jeyapalan, is also a South Asian Canadian woman, and her love for the city of Toronto absolutely shines throughout the film. And as a Canadian girly who loves hockey, thank God they cast an actor who actually plays hockey for the role of Carter. At one point they show a little glimpse of what Joe Scarpellino can do on the ice and it's clear to anyone who plays that the dude can skate.

I will be watching this on repeat as it has replaced all other romcoms in my roster as my number one comfort movie. Thank you to all involved in this film for this absolute gift.

Saw this last night and thought it was wonderful. So much life in these characters, which were impeccably acted. The story is simple enough to find yourself in and deep enough to really connect to these people. Everything about the movie was terrifically done: it looked great, sounded great, was beautifully shot, well acted, and the director's choices were always spot on. The theatre was filled people you could tell were having a blast, laughing in all the right places. This film will probably get buried due to poor promotion and the way the Canadian film industry works but you should do whatever you can to track it down. Can't wait for what Jeyapalan does next!