Movie genres are sort of like science experiments. Each one has its own tried-and-true formula that, with the right variables, should yield the right result: a satisfied audience. One of the most reliable formulas is the romantic comedy genre. The formula must be balanced with just enough of what will make the audience laugh, what will cause them to swoon, and what will have them tearing up or clutching their pearls before the inevitable conclusion. Of course, there’s always room for error. What if the meet-cute isn’t right? What if the characters aren’t likable? Or worse, what if the actors have no chemistry? Thankfully, Amazon MGM’s latest romcom experiment, The Love Hypothesis, avoids every one of those pitfalls, proving that in life, love is the one uncontrolled variable that can’t be calculated.
Based on the New York Times best-selling novel by Ali Hazelwood, The Love Hypothesis follows Olive (Lili Reinhart; Forbidden Fruits), a brilliant graduate student hoping to continue her pancreatic cancer research at a star lab. When Olive notices that her crush, Jeremy (Nicholas Duvernay; Not Suitable for Work), likes her best friend Anh (Rachel Marsh; Adults)—and that the feelings are mutual—she impulsively grabs the first guy she sees and plants a long, intense kiss on him to prove she’s moved on, hoping Anh will give Jeremy a chance.
Unfortunately, that guy turns out to be one of Stanford’s most intimidating professors: Adam Carlsen (Tom Bateman; Hedda), better known as Dr. Evil. Now Olive needs Adam to help her sell this fake relationship for the sake of her friendship—and Adam agrees because he could use Olive for a situation of his own. What begins as a rough and extremely awkward arrangement thaws into a sweet friendship and eventually simmers into true affection. As the lines blur, Olive and Adam both run the numbers to figure out if the risk is worth the reward.
Lili Reinhart is an underrated chameleon. Her project choices since her time on Riverdale show that she’s serious about stretching her gift in a variety of directions. Earlier this year, she gave us mean-girl energy in the witchy horror comedy Forbidden Fruits, and before that, played so tenderly in the indie drama series Hal & Harper. Throughout the press tour for The Love Hypothesis, she’s been channeling classic romantic comedies like My Date With the President’s Daughter, Miss Congeniality, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and more. She isn’t just paying homage to the films, but to the actors who led them, and her performance shows it.
That same dedication to the genre is what makes her pairing with Bateman work. Reinhart’s naturally awkward affect pairs well with Bateman’s uptight, almost robotic demeanor. In fact, when the film first started, I didn’t care for him at all; impeccable acting. When Olive and Dr. Adam’s relationship first starts, you can feel the secondhand cringe through the screen. They’re like two sides of the same coin that just don’t seem to go together. As the film continues, they slowly shed layers of their initial personas until the moment that had me holding my breath, pulling my sweatshirt hood tight, kicking my feet with utter glee, and screaming, “That’s what I’m talking about.” Though for a rated R romantic comedy, I would’ve liked more than one scene to scream at.
As the film goes on, scheduled hand-holding becomes automatic. Conversations lead to intimacy. The kisses become less of a performance and more of a compulsion. But the best relationship in the film is Olive and Anh’s friendship. I love a friendship that feels real and doesn’t fall into tropes like letting friends down or betrayal. Olive and Anh love each other, and they treat each other accordingly. Not to give anything away, but there’s a moment toward the end where Olive wonders if Anh is mad at her, and that scene solidified the story’s authenticity for me.
The Love Hypothesis is rom-com cuteness overload, especially if you also love science. Towards the end, I started to wonder if I chose the wrong major; everyone seemed so smart and science is so sexy. Reinhart and Bateman are a delight. Marsh delivers some of the film’s best comedic relief. Book adaptations are on the rise, and with The Love Hypothesis as the latest one, it’s easy to see why.
The Love Hypothesis is streaming on Prime Video on Wednesday, September 23.
Other Articles
‘Best of the Best’ Is Worth Every Eight Count
No Comment! Be the first one.