I am so glad I watched this on a whim! What a good movie and I'd never heard of it before. However, I noticed many seem to call this a comedy or even a rom-com. Personally I say it's a light-hearted drama. If you go into it expecting those other genres, you may be disappointed.
The movie is so spot on with its depiction of a very specific culture. I had figured it takes place somewhere in Western PA but person said it's Morgantown WV. However it looks exactly like it could be the Allentown-Bethlehem area, near to where I grew up (just across the river in NJ). I felt like I've spent ages in bars or stores just like in the movie, and my friends had houses and cars like the Oliverios. This must be semi-autobiographical for the writer/director because this place is so real.
The whole cast is also so well chosen, right down to the smaller parts. Everyone is well thought out and has their own character and backstory, even if it's unspoken. The only actors I already knew going in were Paul Ben-Victor and Joey Pants. Plus I'd seen Skyler Gisondo as young Shawn on Psych. But watching this, even though it's set in the past, I felt like I was seeing the future of young Hollywood. They're so talented. They all could go on to be very successful.
One of my only quibbles is that I thought there was a time or two in the first part, towards the end of Tony and Beth's first date, where things got a little slow. But once it gets to the next day, the film gets more expansive and vibrant as more of the cast gets woven in. One person described Tony as a little too perfect but I feel it all works as part of a Christmas fable.
I had another quibble that Madison Iseman's hair is directly out of 2019. Eighties set shows that don't actually look like the 80s is a MAJOR pet peeve. I had just started high school in 83 so I know how all these people should look and it's not that. But here it sort of works because it symbolizes what a different world Beth comes from. When she shows up at the end with a side part and more curls than beachy waves, it's like "now she's beginning to fit in." We know without words her character made a big change and it hits just right.
Part of me wants to spend more time with this family and for the story to go on. And it could go on because they are so real. I imagine Angelo and Sarah will be married and have their own family that's a version of the Oliverios. Juke may finally get the girlfriend he yearns for with Katie. It's pretty likely Tony and Beth will go their separate ways as they go off to school, but they would always value their life changing relationship. Because that's real life and not a Hallmark movie. It doesn't make their story any less sweet or less worthy.
This is one movie I'll definitely watch again and I'm spreading the word about it.
The movie is so spot on with its depiction of a very specific culture. I had figured it takes place somewhere in Western PA but person said it's Morgantown WV. However it looks exactly like it could be the Allentown-Bethlehem area, near to where I grew up (just across the river in NJ). I felt like I've spent ages in bars or stores just like in the movie, and my friends had houses and cars like the Oliverios. This must be semi-autobiographical for the writer/director because this place is so real.
The whole cast is also so well chosen, right down to the smaller parts. Everyone is well thought out and has their own character and backstory, even if it's unspoken. The only actors I already knew going in were Paul Ben-Victor and Joey Pants. Plus I'd seen Skyler Gisondo as young Shawn on Psych. But watching this, even though it's set in the past, I felt like I was seeing the future of young Hollywood. They're so talented. They all could go on to be very successful.
One of my only quibbles is that I thought there was a time or two in the first part, towards the end of Tony and Beth's first date, where things got a little slow. But once it gets to the next day, the film gets more expansive and vibrant as more of the cast gets woven in. One person described Tony as a little too perfect but I feel it all works as part of a Christmas fable.
I had another quibble that Madison Iseman's hair is directly out of 2019. Eighties set shows that don't actually look like the 80s is a MAJOR pet peeve. I had just started high school in 83 so I know how all these people should look and it's not that. But here it sort of works because it symbolizes what a different world Beth comes from. When she shows up at the end with a side part and more curls than beachy waves, it's like "now she's beginning to fit in." We know without words her character made a big change and it hits just right.
Part of me wants to spend more time with this family and for the story to go on. And it could go on because they are so real. I imagine Angelo and Sarah will be married and have their own family that's a version of the Oliverios. Juke may finally get the girlfriend he yearns for with Katie. It's pretty likely Tony and Beth will go their separate ways as they go off to school, but they would always value their life changing relationship. Because that's real life and not a Hallmark movie. It doesn't make their story any less sweet or less worthy.
This is one movie I'll definitely watch again and I'm spreading the word about it.