My Oxford Year

Corny? Absolutely. Cliché? Every damn minute. But did I eat it up like emotional comfort food? Without shame.

American girl with big dreams meets tortured British guy at Oxford. They hate each other, fall in love, and there's of course a tragic twist. It's every trope you've seen before, rainy kisses, scarf moments, emotional monologues, and yet it works.

Manipulative? 100%. Predictable? Hell yes.

Would I watch it again? Hell no.

Unoriginal, but irresistible. Well done Netflix!

This film had script that was written by someone who's never been to Oxford or had put it through AI and thought that will do. The whole thing never gelled together.

The lead actress is wooden and emits no emotion with her monotone voice and lack of chemistry with the lead man. Speaking of the lead man he can act but I just wish he wouldn't mumble and speak properly.

The best part is the supporting cast particularly the character Charlie who brings some natural comic relief and personality to film along with the two other characters that play his friends

This is a type of film to have on in the background.

In a world of endless sequels and blockbusters, finding a straightforward romance movie feels like a rare treat, and I'm so glad this one got made. It really leans into its own sweetness. The heart of the film is a simple, earnest love story that has that nostalgic, teenage-dream quality you can't help but smile at, even as an adult. The soundtrack, full of classic hits, is the perfect companion, really helping to sell that cozy, feel-good vibe.

Unfortunately, that charm starts to fray when it comes to the execution. The script feels like it's built on a foundation of familiar clichés, with dialogue that seems written in a hurry. This doesn't give the actors much to work with, and it shows, particularly with the lead. Her portrayal of Anna felt amateurish, and the character's instant "I'm wiser than everyone" attitude was a bit hard to swallow. It's a shame, because the core idea is so genuinely likeable.

As a nice touch, the film does a good job of soaking you in the Oxford atmosphere, with little details like rowing, croquet, and football adding to the world.

Ultimately, this is a movie with a big heart but a few clumsy feet. If you can look past the clunky script and forgive some of the flaws, you'll find a truly relaxing and heartwarming film that's perfect for a quiet night in.

When i saw Sofia Carson as the lead, my hope for a better acted romantic movie went out of the window because that girl can't act to save a movie with her acting. But still the romantic in me gave the movie benefit of the doubts that maybe she's improved and maybe her and Corey have pulled off a lovely romantic movie.

That didn't happen.

My Oxford Year started off with Anna, daughter of an immigrant, struggling with money and a feminist who loves to read going to Oxford for a gap year to study poetry. A very typical Sofia Carson role. And to make u believe she loves to read, she's carrying a book.

But what threw me off from the very beginning of the movie, the artificial facial expressions of her. Each and every expression so strategically cultivated, it was very painful to watch, especially when u see the supporting characters being so lively and animated and expressive.

And lord !!! When she talks !!! I can't bear her 24*7 seductive husky monotonous dialogue delivery with all teeth on display and no closing of mouth. Not a hair out of place, cheeks always shining, she's always alert and posing, and the fakeness is so apparant!!! She's a beautiful lady but the worst actress to be in a romantic movie !!!

Then there's Corey who was trying to be Will from Me Before You and over acted most parts due to horrible dialogues and screenplay.

So Anna is in Oxford, and immediately starts a fun relationship with her teacher's assistant, who is her teacher by proxy, Jamie. In the beginning, her narrative was how passionate she was about this opportunity to study in Oxford, but within few minutes u see her nothing but being horny and boning her teacher.

Also the non existent chemistry between Sofia and Corey didn't even make those scenes sexy. It was so sterile. Just two beautiful looking puppets going through motions.

Interestingly, no one batted an eye bout this relationship when in reality it is forbidden to for a teacher to have any relationship with a direct student. Don't know which fantasyland they r actually living on !!!

Later in the movie we learn Jamie is battling cancer and to be honest Corey looked anything but a cancer patient. Even when he was supposed to look sick, he looked healthy as horse. Many condemned the fact about him being immature refusing further treatment and just live his life.

Now here, with some rational tweaks, they could have executed it much better. Because there r two sides in this equation, the parents trying everything to save their child and the said child not wanting to go through the grueling procedures and miss the life because it's not guaranteed that the treatment would work. If this was presented with more sensitively, it wouldn't have looked like a mess because both were right from their POVs. And then u get an ending of Anna doing things her and Jamie planned, traveling the places they discussed and taping herself. Again, this movie could have been better with a better actress other than Sofia, some better dialogues and logic.

Jamie's father was the only actor who understood the assignment that he was in an emotional movie because his pain was so evident in every scene and when he was talking about losing his child and Sofia looking at him seductivly !!!! Arghhhhhh !!!!

My 2⭐ r for the dad and the supporting actors because they were the only good things in that movie.

A fitting addition to these 'woman finds herself in Europe' movies. Bad in good ways. Amazing how small a world it is that the same 4 people constantly run into each other. Predictable but in a comforting way. Dad bod alert. Not exactly an accurate portrayal of dying and disease. But still oddly warm and stock photo pretty.