Oh, Hi!, Movie Review
As uncomfortable, humorous, and sincere as the film may be, the longer the story is stretched, the more unrealistic and insipid it becomes.
Breakups can be brutal. But is it still a breakup if only one person thinks they’re in the relationship? Tricky question, yet coming to that realization has to sting beyond measure. Some might say that could push someone over the brink.
Welcome to Oh, Hi!
Written and directed by Sophie Brooks, this dark romantic comedy starts off erratic, sparking intrigue and amusement as we follow Iris (Molly Gordon, who’s also a producer and earned a story credit) and Isaac (Logan Lerman) on their first romantic getaway after dating for only four short months. Our two young lovebirds seem smitten with each other as the film has the look and feel of a light and breezy romance set in the gorgeous New York countryside where they will make dinner, drink wine, and make love. An ideal setting for love to conquer all.
Nonetheless, thirty-three hours later, when Iris’ best friend Max (Geraldine Viswanathan) and her boyfriend Kenny (John Reynolds) come knocking on the door - their love story has gone absurdly amiss. This is where the film slowly loses momentum as the third act feels contrived, dragged out and less engaging than how this story first unfolded. But let’s rewind a bit.
Everything begins to go downhill for Iris and Isaac after she handcuffs him to the bed, plunging into a night of pleasure. They found some kinky stuff in a closet they just couldn’t resist. But when the time comes for Isaac to be set free, it’s after a slight misunderstanding of what him and Iris’ relationship is. Hint: It ain’t boyfriend and girlfriend. This is when Oh, Hi! brazenly basks in its Misery. With the help of an online relationship expert, Iris is determined to prove to Isaac that she’s all he’ll ever want or need. Isaac is stuck in bed with nowhere to go, so she self-imposes a twelve hour time limit for him to change his mind and become exclusive for eternity.
Brooks grapples with commitment issues, loneliness, and the need for connection, which are all synonymous with the hellish world of modern dating, with a fresh and deranged approach. Lerman sure has grown up fast since The Perks of Being a Wallflower. As Isaac, he’s of course charming and romantic, but he brings a certain kind of genuineness and avoids falling into being the stereotypical asshole who’s nothing more than a dishonest womanizer. Truth be told, he’s really the only rational one of the bunch.
But, after her terrific supporting roles in titles such as Booksmart, Shiva Baby and Theater Camp - Oh, Hi! is undeniably Gordon’s time to shine. She is fabulous, portraying crazy in a cute way and desperate in every way. Like so many, Iris is just trying to make sense of what it means to actually date in a millennial minefield. She wants to be loved like she loves. Is that too much to ask? Even so, forcing it this intensely probably isn’t the best move to achieve that. How Gordon maneuvers between the tricky tones of the film is only further proof she deserves more lead roles.
As uncomfortable, humorous, and sincere as the film may be, the longer the story is stretched, the more unrealistic and insipid it becomes. While the performances keep you hanging in there, the film’s message loses its edge by the end. Brooks’ brilliance is apparent, but unfortunately she abandons some of her story’s best and insightful ideas for others like a witch potion capable of wiping one’s memory. You fall in love with Oh, Hi! until it falls apart.