Alone Together

I wouldn't have expected Katie Holmes to be the filmmaker who attempts to create a love story set during the early days of the pandemic. She wrote and directed this 2022 romantic dramedy. However, I would expect her to be the star since her filmmaking style draws from the same sensitivity well as her six years on "Dawson's Creek". The sensitivity of her direction and performance works to some degree, but the leaden pacing and feckless characters hamper Holmes' intention to bring a level of intimacy to COVID. There is something frustrating about watching fortyish characters act like they're dealing with twentysomething angst. Holmes, Jim Sturgess, and Derek Luke try mightily to compensate for this lapse by infusing sincerity. Only an unrecognizable Melissa Leo registers as a character actually living through the uncertainty of the pandemic.

I feel I have been a bit harsh on this film, as I did really enjoy watching I, and found it to be a bit better than reviews had me believe.

It wasn't a wholly original premise, although the Lockdown element added something fresh. I can understand this film isn't for those who like high action or a steady flow of punchy one liners.

However, despite the gentle pace, no huge peaks or troughs, and a pretty tame/simple concept, I was fully engaged throughout the film and thought it was very watchable. Yes, big things are ignored, or/& wrapped up/over before they're really ever a 'thing ', but I just liked being in the company of the characters and watching them navigate the pandemic with existing stresses and life situations.

I'd not deter anyone from watching this, and I appreciated most performances. But, its not something I'd rave about either. I think it's best being one of those films you stumped across and decide to give a try, and end up having a pleasant 90mins viewing experience.

I quite enjoyed this movie, it describes what went on and what people went through in the city. With all the awkward moments. I remmwber thinking it was going to be two weeks, then everything shutting down, remember not being able to hug my family, staying away from friends, my building not allowing friends to come for a meal, friends dying and hearing of people passing, and working all day and stepping outside for the 7pm cheer - in my opinion it's well done. And then getting better here and worse in other countries. And if it seems slow, that's because that's how those days were. Well done!

And the love story is a nice background, or the other way around.

A twee little movie that is inoffensive and fairly unmemorable, sort of Hallmark-ish in its lasting ability.

But there is one very annoying plothole: why, when from the outside this appeared to be a very large house, was there, inside, only one bedroom and onebathroom?

... it's an achievement getting through this romantic-drama without fast-forwarding many sections... there are just sooo many parts that either take forever getting anywhere, or large sections that are just completely predictable as to be intensely boring

... there's not anything tremendously off with any of the acting or the film's production values... it's just when there is entire control in the hands of just one individual, it can prove an issue as evidenced here... outside of having the pandemic as part of the storyline, and not an interesting part, this movie just seems empty.... smiling alot of the Katie Homes smile just isn't enough to make this worth the time.