Flawed but okish

Rating: 5/10 (22 May 2019)

--This movie has some genuine, touching, human moments, but they are few and far between. They mostly don't happen due to the movie's biggest letdown, which is its poorly written dialogue. It constantly tries to explain the plot directly to the viewer in the form of characters spewing exposition. This is because the characters aren't talking between themselves, they're talking to the viewer. And their choices of topics often feel unnatural and simply serve to further the plot. It's the sort of thing which will keep breaking suspension of disbelief if you notice it.
--Another problem is the way it handles its dramatic build-up. It seems to recognize where the buildup should occur, but the buildup itself, much like the dialogue, feels formulaic and hollow. As a result, it doesn't do a very good job of getting you excited for the story's payoffs.
--I like the directing idea of using the off-the-shoulder camera with close angles during various tense scenes in the first half of the movie, to try and relay the protagonist's anxiety to the viewer. The concept is very good and offers some nice shots which explain the mood of the scenes well, often without even showing the actor's face. But it in other scenes it feels unpolished, as if done without a clear sense of purpose. This is especially problematic when the movie has some very classical romantic comedy directing towards the end, which feels polished and slightly like the heart of the movie had already left the stage.
--All in all, this isn't a run-of-the-mill rom-com which is encouraging, but it lacks organic writing and a single design philosophy. These flaws leave it feeling rather bland despite some cool and honest moments.