A truly worthy love letter to New York, Romance, Music, and Second Chances.

Rating: 9/10 (1 September 2014)

This film, to look from a distance, seems like your usual dime a dozen ROM-COM. All the tropes seem to be in place, just waiting to be ordinary, forgettable experience. Just like all the pop songs that use the same chord progression as "Pachelbel's Canon in D". Though, just like some of those songs, a little personality will turn it from generic, to the song you hum in the shower.
The film introduces you to its leads in a very interesting way. Which hooked me right away. You are then given context to the night of their serendipitous meeting. Seeing the events that placed both of them in the same venue at just the right moment as to have, what could be, a life changing moment for them both.
It is filled to the brim with music. Most of which is very enjoyable, if not a little more Pop than my personal taste. Which is fine, there isn't a sour note in the whole film.
All of the actors are used to great effect. Which is impressive with the number of real greats it contains. Keira Knightly is instantly likable here. Her character always seems to have the right intentions if not the best execution. Mark Ruffalo, like always, shines as the washed up music producer/record label executive. Waiting to regain his life after a series of failures. Adam Levine, well, seems to play a different version of himself, only much less likable at times. Kathrine Keener, isn't in the movie enough. I think most people will agree. I like her a lot and she is always fun to watch. She does what she does better than anyone else, in my humble opinion.
Each story is granted the time it deserves, without staying overly long with any single person. You really get to understand and relate to all the character motivations in the time given. Even when there are deviations from the usual or expected, with some of the relationships. You know exactly why those things happen and understand the reasons, behind those decisions.
All in all, I really enjoyed this film. I have seen many a film that fails at what this story attempts. Yet it really does nail it. It is about dealing with the unexpected derailment that life seems to drop on you. Giving examples of how to pick up the pieces and get back on track. It's a good thing then, that the first song we hear is about finding yourself in the subway without direction.