La scelta del destino

8.2 stars.

It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to enjoy such a hassle free, error free, and amateur free love story like this one. I've been stuck in Hallmark land for so long that I forgot how nice a good mainstream romance could make me feel. Sure, everybody is simply having sex these days, and it's been like this for decades, but thankfully the sex thing isn't overdone here, and these two young adults are just really cool, fun, nerdy, intelligent, and nice people who happen to fall in love amidst a tumult of adversarial people and circumstances. I enjoyed myself the whole way through and I have nothing negative to say 'About Fate'. Good solid romance, if you like either one of the leads you will love this movie.

A modern day movie that's worth watching without all the agenda laden nonsense. At least, it wasn't as noticeable. A normal picture show with normal people and normal families. Emma Roberts looked amazing in this rom-com with her hair down because I didn't recognize her from the picture shown here on IMDb. This movie had so much potential and could've been so much more if it wasn't for the corny fight scene at the wedding. That scene almost lost me and it should have been a little more believable but it was so fake and why have a fight scene at all if you're not going to go all out. Another example of how one can make a great motion picture without all the profanity and sex.

I absolutely loved this movie.

In 2022, it is very hard to find a story like this.

The story is very character driven, there is no unnecessary subplots to confuse the viewer and there is no exploring side-character's stories unnecessarily.

Absolutely zero mention of THE MESSAGE.

(This is why this is a rare find in 2022)

In this movie, the just the lead actors telling their story how they meet on a fateful night and how they keep meeting for some reason is explored. It's just lead actors telling their story and the supporting actors are supporting the leads' story to progress.

Seven out of ten because there are some goofs and mishaps in the movie that make the viewer feel like deceived but it does not hurt the story's continuation.

A must watch if you love rom-coms which has the new year's eve theme bound to it.

IN A NUTSHELL: This romantic comedy is a tale of two people who believe in love, but seem to never be able to find its true meaning. In a wild twist of events, fate puts each in the other's path on a stormy New Year's Eve, as comedy and chaos ensue.

The film was directed by Marius Vaysberg, and is based on the play "Happy Steam-Bathing! Once On A New Year's Eve." Apparently, this is an American remake of the Russian movie from 1975 called "The Irony of Fate or Enjoy Your Bath" which is considered to be a holiday classic there. Quite a few negative comments from that Russian cast have been made about this remake. Another remake was made in 2015 called I Love NY.

THINGS I LIKED: I like Emma Roberts and want her to do well in her career. Her famous aunt, Julia Roberts, must be proud.

The true standout of the cast, for me, is Thomas Mann. I'd like to see more of him. He's charming and humble and perfectly awkward. I thought he and Emma Roberts had good chemistry.

Other cast members include Britt Robertson, Lewis Tan, Cheryl Hines, Madelaine Petsch, and Wendie Malick.

I loved the orange candle trick during the wedding scene.

That carnation pink coat is pretty cute and meaningful in the story. I love it when details overlap in stories.

The last scene was super sweet.

The story is very cliched, but if you don't mind, you'll enjoy the goofy romance.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: I really like the actress Britt Robertson, who has played the leading lady in quite a few rom-coms of her own. Unfortunately, the character she plays in this movie is so self-absorbed and demanding that she is unlikeable.

Some of the dialogue is pretty lame.

All of the women in the movie are "EXTRA" and a bit psycho. The men are mostly clueless and incapable of handling their wacky women. None of the characters seem realistic at all.

Much of the humor doesn't land. Nothing made me laugh out loud.

The setup of the leading man accidentally ending up in the leading woman's bed because he thought it was his apartment is completely ridiculous. How did he get in? Didn't he recognize all of the different furniture?

There are so many rom-com tropes from other/better movies, making the movie entirely predictable.

The background music is super sentimental, telling you exactly how to feel at every moment.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Lots of alcohol and drunk people A woman is high Some kissing "Mild" profanity A fight scene between men

THEMES: Fate Romance & true love Forgiveness Breakups Wedding Being flexible Hope

The BEST rom-coms have a dark edge ("Destination Wedding", "Meet Cute", "Always Be My Maybe", "Palm Springs", etc) but some with NO edge get by (just) on the 'charm' of their leads (without which they'd be Hallmark sludge)... like "About Fate". Emma Roberts & Thomas Mann are likeable twenty-something strangers who on New Years Eve Eve (warning: it's a festive movie) are SUPPOSED to get engaged to their respective ill-suited partners Lewis Tan & Madelaine Petsch... but 'fate' (or 'serendipity'? - no, THAT rom-com had more edge too) has other plans for this perfect pair. It's soft & schmaltzy fare, but for the right audience, it is passable.