Getting to Know You is all the best things about romantic comedies. There is the cute couple, the convenient plot contrivances that advance the plot, and a series of wacky situations. That means it checks off al the rom com boxes. But does it do enough to stand out as a movie worth watching or is it just more sentimental fodder for a specific audience?
One of the biggest movie news items of the year has been the increased reliance on streaming. Netflix, Hulu, and its ilk already had a strong foothold, but the pandemic has changed the way audiences consume newer films. This has led to movies that may have been overlooked having a chance to be seen by people who may not have otherwise heard of them.
Getting to Know You is one of those films. In any other year, it may have been missed by the theater going audience. Rom coms sell tickets based on star power. Despite being well acted, the film lacks the big names that instantly sell tickets. In the digital environment, it has the potential to fare much better. Viewers are more likely to take a chance with a movie they can stream at home.
The plot does not have much depth. Two strangers meet, pretend to be married, and end up falling in love. It is in the characters that Getting to Know You stands out. The rom com formula is a device used to tell a more engaging they usual love story. One reason the film works so well is thanks to its two lead characters. Luke (Rupert Penry Jones) and Abby (Natasha Little) bond from the moment they meet. There is the normal melodrama to be found in the genre, but Luke and Abby are a likeable pair. The audience wants them to get together once the plot is set into motion.
Jones and Little have great chemistry. The banter between the two comes easily and the evolution of their relationship is natural to watch. The premise works thanks to Jones and Little. As is often the case with rom-coms, there are a number of characters in Getting to Know You. Most of them have some great moments, but Rachel Blanchard’s Kayla steals the show. She is raunchy, hilarious, and is the highlight of every scene she is in.
Romantic comedies follow a set formula that audiences love. There is little that needs to be done to change the genre. Audiences know what they want from movies of this genre. More often than not, they get it. Getting to Know You does not tinker much with that tried and true blueprint. Instead, it delivers a mature story that anyone who watches will love.
Check out our video review!
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