All of You: Brett Goldstein and Imogen Poots offer us one of the best near-future romance films as two best friends who have feelings for each other despite the fact that their close companion has found his perfect match in the course of testing the supposed soulmate theory.
And I would also say that William Bridges’ future little tear jerker soul mate film is near impossible to find. It’s out there, I swear. Sure, a lot of (movies) about the search for romance exists in the Infinitely scrolling (streaming) services menus but how many of them are worth it? Is it a When Harry Met Sally type of film, or Sex Lives of the Potato Men? A one night stand sort of film, or one resembling the cute pair featured in pixar’s UP?
All of You goes more towards the right. Nothing too heavy, so just the premise has settled everyone down with the two leads, Poots and Goldstein, who have great chemistry, and of course, the sci fi premise that with its depth encourages both character and audience to be cynical about it. The whole thing opens very nicely as a meet cute, as these two people are incredibly connected and quickly establish a bond with each other and the audience.
Friendly banter consisting of sarcasm, laughter, and the shared sadness of losing a job offer. It is the kind of thing where friends will keep you hydrated at the club or take you to the ER when stressed out.
Despite this originality, the 500 Days of Summer factor in which critical events are skimmed and repeated throughout a decade of the story to come has New Girl’s Goldstein and Poots always tight-leaning into this contrived relationship, never hurries when rehearsing it. Their chemistry seems so relatable that quite frankly, not much is needed to explain how Simon and Laura met. We’re spared the details; yes, they crossed paths at the University, but we are interested in what matters most- what happens now.
Goldstein who also co-scripted the film alongside Bridges accents the softer side of Roy Kent, in his adapted love story. It’s sufficing for a character uninterested in the idea of being told who he is supposed to associate with. The fact that Simon is his Ted Lasso character is an understatement; behind the arrogance and crass catch phrases more often than not is a quote ‘softie’ that only adds to the grief connected with the events that follow.
Poots has more weight on her shoulders, and in completing it she has delivered her best turn in her career. From the first time we are introduced to Laura, it seems that she is a woman with so many layers. Every upturned mouth conceals something, every outburst of laughter is an unbuckling, every pause heavy with the opposite. It is a beautiful character, one which needs compassion and one which needs comprehension, and Poots gets it done.
The film in many ways goes wide off the rails in how hastily it abandons the sci-fi premise of the plot. So much could be achieved from the idea of being ordered to love someone, and the themes of conformity and social pressure, but they are more or less thrown out after the characters have clinched. This is particularly aggravating because it is the last third of the movie that gets a bit dull with Simon and Laura tying the knots repeatedly; and the film turns into crude emotional exchanges repeatedly hammering on the heart like a toddler in Hollywood goes Debra. That said, it is hard to maintain those levels of cynicism as you dab your face dry from tears.
All of You is a complex chronicle of love that does not fully develop its ideas to the level the leads do with their performances but is sure to attain a cult weepie status.
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