Rating 4.5/5 ☆☆☆☆.5
Rye Lane is a refreshing and exciting new British rom-com, for anyone looking for something uplifting and escapist. Director, Raine Allen Miller has created through story, cinematography and editing choice, a London that I want to go to. Beautifully shot, every scene has a clear intention and purposeful set and costume design choices. The movie is quirky, but not pretentious, and from the very beginning provides comic relief amongst the more emotionally poignant storylines.
The story follows two recently single twenty-somethings, Dom and Yas, who meet unexpectedly in the unisex loo’s of their mutual friends art show. The actors, David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah have instant and undeniable chemistry, making the watching experience immediately enjoyable. Both show great talent and charisma in their respective roles. Jonsson takes on the role of the sensitive and self-deprecating Dom without ever making him unlikable or whiny. Oparah plays Yas loud and open, subtly letting the pain and grief of losing her last relationship seep out and eventually explode. Even side characters - the exes and their new beau’s - are terrific and convincing performances. Benjamin Sarpong-Broni’s performance as Eric’s is particularly stand-out.
The choice to take the viewer out of the realism and include things like retelling of Yas’ break-up through a scene in a play - multiples of Dom make up the audience reacting. Later the same sofa is sat in the real flat, the beautiful set design around it telling us this is an artists home and it is well lived in. Keeping the story connected, from the imaginary to the grounded scenes.
The storyline didn’t play into any tropes, didn’t make any of the decisions by the characters feel forced. The story took place mostly over one day, and it felt natural. I wanted the date to continue as an audience member - as the characters wanted it to continue with one another.
Though the ending, taking place over several weeks in a handful of minutes, feels rushed compared to the time spent with the characters initially only over one day, it moves the story where we want it to go, and doesn’t let us linger around. A rom-com, regardless of intent, will inevitably have a cliche and predictable ending - the main love interests will be together and in love by the time the credits roll - so speeding through the necessary self work each character had to do to be relationship ready may have been a necessary editing and storyboarding choice to not bore the audience - though I would have enjoyed lingering slightly longer in their separate lives.
Still I rated this film 4.5/5. It is the best room-com I have seen in a long time and I believe it will have the staying power of its predecessors, including that of the famous cameo’s reference. (IYKYK).
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