Finding Emily - Review

A spoiler-free review!

Completely taken by the trailer, I was very excited for the release of a new modern rom-com to hit the big screen, because let's face it, the Prime originals aren’t cutting it anymore.

Written by Rachel Hirons and directed by Alicia Macdonald in her feature film debut, starring Spike Fearn as Owen, and Angourie Rice as Emily.

‘Finding Emily’ follows Owen, a hopeless romantic university student, who, despite being a musician in Manchester (walking red flag, am I right, ladies), is searching for love.

On a wild night out, Owen meets his dream girl, Emily. After a charming back and forth, Emily gives her number to Owen, seemingly to go on a real date, where Owen can tactically use his obvious charm over a candlelit dinner, not a sweaty nightclub.

To Owen's dismay, the number is wrong. Missing a number. Such events ultimately lead to an FBI-level search for her across Manchester. Real yearners, we are so back!  

Enter Emily. Not that Emily. Emily Raine, a fellow Manchester University student. She studies psychology and proposes she uses Owen's quest for love as her dissertation project, on, cover your ears, Owen, romantic obsession.  

MacDonald's direction perfectly encapsulates the chaos in Owen's quest and represents the relatable frenzy in modern dating. The use of montages and fast-paced scene changes makes it fun to watch, nailing the Gen-Z blasé, anything goes approach to life. Hirons' script is sharp and intentionally relatable to younger adults, perfectly pinning the university experience and humour.  

Fearn's Owen and Rice's Emily have wildly contrasting personalities and show a compelling and wholesome representation of unexpected, boy-girl friendship. Rice demonstrates intelligence and emotional depth through Emily; she has a genuine sympathy for Owen. Contrary to Owen's outlandish impulsiveness and unconventional attempts to find love. Emily grounds Owen with logic; Owen lifts Emily with a bizarre disaster. Clearly, in these two, opposites do attract.

The humour and back and forth between the two protagonists provides a balance across the film, and carries the humour of the film as so many rom-coms have before them. Watching the film, I could see a piece of me in both of them, which I think a lot of watchers, old and young, will feel. Ultimately, highlighting the universal desire to love and be loved.

With plenty of ups and downs for both leading characters, you are taken on a real journey of character development, where they feel evolved from the beginning of the film to the end. Both battling a sense of right and wrong, neither character falls short or feels unfinished.      

Nothing is too small in this film, from grand gestures all the way down to the original soundtrack, the film feels ahead of its time in a genre that so often feels a bit been there, done that.        

Perfectly keeping up with traditional rom-com tropes, with a fun and relatable modern-day twist. Representing not just a quest for love in the modern age, but also seeing the fun in the ridiculous.

Finding Emily is a charming, must-watch modern-day rom-com.

4 Stars - Highly recommend

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