Between the Reels

And when viewing both back to back it drove home how pertinent it is for the film creators to craft a subtle realistic couple, and how sometimes it works and other times it utterly fails. The two films in question work as a nice double viewing; one is a perfect blend of movie magic where the script's dialogue, the director's swift control of the proceedings and the actor's ability and chemistry all come together...and the second, where none of it melds believably and instead results in an odd patchwork that leaves behind a hollow unemotional film.

I initially scoffed at the trailer for Like Crazy, making my usual assumption that it looked like a convoluted boring 'romantic' young love affair that would only cause a bout of depression. And although I'd like to stick to my negative prejudgements, I actually loved this film. With perfect casting with Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin, the central couple who finds themselves torn between the worlds of London and LA and the inevitable issue of a green card, it makes for a touching and perfectly handled film.

The romance isn't forced and unlike the majority of romantic dramas or rom coms, the dialogue isn't shoe horned in and unrealistic, no out of the blue one liners to demonstrate how 'plucky' the central heroine is (I'm looking at you Meg Ryan.) It is something that One Day could have learned from.

While Like Crazy sometimes opts for moments of silence knowing the audience can work out what the characters are thinking due to the great direction and performances, One Day seems to feel the need to force romantic dialogue that sounds out of place. "I Love you Dexter, I just don't like you." (meh.)

One Day might have worked as a novel (by David Nicholls), as a film it is a bit of a sorry excuse, with terrible characterisation in parts, especially Dexter, played by Jim Sturgess, who is usually a great go to actor for the relatable central male lead. Instead, Dexter comes across as a complete pompous arse-twat, which in some parts of the narrative is needed, but the performance lacks the fundamental he may be a douche but deep down he is a nice guy approach. Instead you just think he is a total posho bastard. And it is here where the whole root of the film doesn't work, mainly due to Dexter being a total boob; the central friendship is wholly unbelievable and when it evolves into a relationship the characters suddenly have a personality transplant as if to make the relationship feel natural.

Neither film has a particularly upbeat finale, (thank god) and while One Day's tragedy is on a far bigger scale, the end of Like Crazy is far more devastating due to its subtly and poignant nature.

So if I could advise one droopy romantic film to watch this winter season, I wholeheartedly would scream Like Crazy while simultaneously spitting on One Day.