There’s something so genuine about Love at First Sight, not so much the idea of the statement itself but the film that’s just arrived on Netflix. It’s an extraordinary marvel that had me smiling from ear to ear and loving every second of this blossoming relationship between two strangers that fate has taken hold of. From a technical standpoint, the coloring and visual style allows for something as mundane as an airport on its busiest day to be magnetic and full of distinction. 

 

Led by a dynamic and ever expanding chemistry between leads: Haley Lu Richardson and Ben Hardy. The film doesn’t attempt to over complicate and instead relies on the heart of the simplicity of two strangers having very different experiences but ones worth sharing. Richardson has always drawn me in with her charisma and tenacity in roles like Edge of Seventeen so it was fantastic to see her resume her presence here. Hardy I’m unfamiliar with and his introduction here made for a grand one as he makes for an everyman romantic lead - the Colin Firth of the Bridget Jones franchise per se. 

 

Fueled with its heart clinging to its sleeve and its creative approach of corresponding with fate and translating it into a character in nearly every scene. This approach allows for the feature to never lose the audience and allows the story to be explored fluently with a character being built by a “narrator” and letting the performances speak for themselves from there. 

 

As someone who has never had the pleasure or opportunity to travel to England, Love at First Sight illuminates the city of London and shines it in a glorifying light of realism and potential. While never detouring from the path that is expected, the journey to get there is unexpectedly poignant, dripping with charm and wit. Love at First Sight is one of the best romantic comedies in recent years and is a connection worth having leading up to the holiday season.