A review by Nalini Haynes
Director: Christian Ditter
Writers: Juliette Towhidi (screenplay), Cecelia Ahern (novel)
Stars: Sam Claflin, Lily Collins, Suki Waterhouse
Special appearances: Jaime Winstone as Ruby; Art Parkinson as Gary Dunne
Watch this if you liked: You’ve got mail
Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Clafin) have been best friends since they were 5 years old. On Rosie’s 18th birthday, Alex kissed her. Then she passed out from alcohol poisoning, waking the next morning after having her stomach pumped with no memory of the kiss.
Alex thinks Rosie didn’t want a relationship with him so he chases after Bethany, leaving Rosie heartbroken.
Rosie stays best friends with Alex. It’s Alex who drives Rosie to the hospital after her disastrous first sex with someone else, Gary, who abandons her when the condom he used disappears. Rosie needs medical extraction. She takes the morning after pill but it’s only effective in 90% of cases.
Alex goes to Harvard on a scholarship. Rosie, who feels Bethany has taken over Alex, doesn’t tell him about the baby.
Ruby (Jaime Winstone) brightens this movie no end; she’s sassy, quirky and full of life. She comes in to Rosie’s life when Rosie goes in search of something to stop the nausea. Ruby asks questions then hands Rosie a pregnancy test kit.
Years pass. Alex and Rosie pass like ships in the night, never quite being honest with one another, never quite meeting at the right time.
As Rosie hides her single parenthood status from her friends and copes with a dick of a baby’s father, I identified so strongly with her. Like Rosie, I once pretended to be babysitting rather than admit to being a mum. Although played, and played well, for comedy, this was so real.
I was disappointed that Rosie’s brothers seemed to disappear once they should have aged. There were other things that were glossed over or raced past as well. As Love, Rosie is a novel-turned-book, I’m very interested in reading the book.
It was interesting to see computer systems develop over the course of Love, Rosie, which spanned 15 years (I think).
Love, Rosie is billed as a romantic comedy but it’s so much more: there are real issues mixed in with the love and laughter. Responsible consumption of alcohol, safe sex, rushing in to relationships just to ‘find someone’ all help set up the story. Rosie chooses between abortion, adoption and keeping the baby; keeping the baby has far-reaching consequences. If I was a high school teacher, I’d make all the 16–18 year olds watch this movie and discuss the issues, however, this is a movie for adults too. Love, Rosie is a movie you can watch as a shallow romantic comedy or it can be mined for deeper meaning and great heart.
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4/5 stars
