Writer/director Celine Song won an Oscar for her last film “Past Lives” and this next feature has a similar one-woman-two-men plot. Dakota Johnson plays a matchmaker in NYC, who ends up dating a rich man (Pedro Pascal), while her struggling actor ex (Chris Evans) keeps coming back into her life. Will she go for the money or does true love win out? I’ve always found Johnson’s performances flat, but this is the first time she seems more genuine and real. The 2 men are both appropriately attractive, physically and emotionally. A quote from my review of Song’s previous film applies here, “Not only are the emotions subdued, but filmmaker Celine Song has imbued the film with the same constrained style…lots of long pauses and quiet staring. Even with the deliberate pacing and muted undertone, there’s a quiet tension that makes their frustrated romance gently compelling.” Pretty much sums up this one too, although I found the encounters more enthralling this time and the ultimate love story predictable, yet sweet. One minor complaint: Why was it necessary to glamourize smoking? 
(3.5 / 5)
