Netflix’s Love At First Sight is an utterly charming romantic comedy that will have you in your feels, largely because of the chemistry the actors have.
For those who enjoy a romantic comedy that will keep their attention through the whole thing, have we got a movie for you. Love At First Sight, which comes to Netflix on September 15th, is utterly adorable and captivating. The two lead actors have great chemistry together which makes their story believable from the start. As with most RomCom’s, the story is quite predictable, although they throw in a few surprises along the way. Still, it is a really fun watch that will have viewers almost immediately invested in the story of Hadley and Oliver.
Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Love At First Sight would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.
Love At First Sight follows Hadley (Haley Lu Richardson) who is always late and a bit of a mess when it comes to things like keeping her phone charged. One might say it is bad luck to miss your flight by four minutes, but for Hadley it completely changed her life because she never would have met Oliver (Ben Hardy) if she made it in time.
Come for a RomCom, but stay for the heart and relatability. Not only is this a story about two people who meet and fall in love, it is a story about their respective families as well. They are each dealing with something that is deeply personal, and the way that they open up to each other is inspiring and proves how talking about something can help lift the weight on your shoulders.
The moments between Haley and her father, and Ben and his mother, are sure to tug at your heart strings. Tears will be shed, especially by those watching that can relate to the familial relationships of the characters. We can all learn something from these interactions, and the end results.
Focusing on just the love portion of the plot, it is extremely predictable. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but just something that should be noted. However, no one likely went into this movie expecting major twists and turns. Even though we know how things are going to end up in the end, the journey is a lot of fun. It is sweet, romantic, and completely and utterly charming. Haley and Ben are adorable together and will have viewers instantly rooting for them to be together.
Jameela Jamil plays the narrator in Love At First Sight, which adds a unique element to the film. We are so used to romantic comedies focusing around the couple, which yes, this movie does, but the narrator pops up as different people throughout their journey, always helping to give them a much needed little push in the right direction.
Clocking in at just under ninety minutes, this is a quick watch too. Because of this, it never slows down or drags on. The pacing is on point allowing for a really quick, fun watch that viewers will be invested in from start to finish.
Overall Thoughts
Love At First Sight might be on the predictable side, following common RomCom tropes that we see time and again, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an enjoyable watch. Every so often a little surprise is thrown in, just to keep the audience on their toes.
Thanks to two talented leads, who exude chemistry on screen together, the story is not only believable, it is really fun to follow. The final voice over by the narrator is sure to have romantic comedy fans in tears.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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About Love At First Sight
After missing her flight from New York to London, Hadley (Haley Lu Richardson) meets Oliver (Ben Hardy) in a chance encounter at the airport that sparks an instant connection. A long night on the plane together passes in the blink of an eye but upon landing at Heathrow, the pair are separated and finding each other in the chaos seems impossible. Will fate intervene to transform these seat mates into soul mates?
Love At First Sight comes to Netflix on September 15th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.