Rye Lane

There seems to be a bit of a renaissance in the romcom genre of late and I'm all for it. Rye Lane joins this wave of impressive films as it is genuinely funny and sweet romcom.

Like any good romcom you need a couple of strong leads who have effortless chemistry and Rye Lane provides this. David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah are a great leading duo, providing plenty of laughs and drama. A strong supporting cast backs them up well too.

The script is very tight and well put together. It feels real and edgy and is actually funny! The 'com' in 'romcom' is often executed so poorly so it's nice to see that this film bucks that trend.

To top it all off, Rye Lane has a pretty good plot too. It's very easy to get swept up in the vibes of the whole thing and it makes for an enjoyable ride. From a broad strokes perspective the plot isn't ground breaking, the romcom formula is very much followed, but the different ways it navigates around the traditional formula feel fresh and exciting.

Overall I can't remember having a better time watching a romcom in the cinema. A great laugh and a lovely story.

Rye Lane is an all time great rom com, efficient in moving through all the tropes with bottomless charm and a level of visual craft rarely seen within this genre. Obviously it's also really funny with several memorable moments rife with effective cringe.

David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah are just phenomenal. They bring out the best in each other with chemistry that's so natural resulting in the initial awkwardness evolving into a real connection. Vivian Oparah is the standout though with an instant and boundless energy which hides a sadness.

Raine Allen-Miller's direction is so good that even something as off putting as a fish eye lens works seamlessly. From the very first scene it's so inventive and that thankfully never lets up. There's so much detail in it as well, background extras make themselves known in subtle ways which just make everything even more fully realised.

'Rye Lane (2023)' feels fresh because of its unique energy and flavour, offering a distinct spin on its well-worn genre by way of directorial flourish and writing prowess. It's this that allows the piece to rise above its familiar plotting and uncomfortably conventional finale. The believably sweet central relationship is strong enough to carry the narrative, primarily due to the witty screenplay and sturdy performances, but it's the extra bits of seasoning sprinkled throughout that really mark it as something special. There's a larger world at play here, one built on background detail and vignette-like side stories, and this grounds the core story in a satisfyingly quirky way. The bright cinematography renders the urban setting with genuine love and the visualised stories with Giallo-like vibrancy. The bouncy editing elevates the quick-witted, ever-so-slightly absurdist humour and is a joy to watch throughout. That's true of the entire affair, really: it's a joy to watch. It's always fun, often funny and rarely misses a bit. It's a sweet romantic comedy that does everything it needs to and more.

If you're looking for a film that's lots of fun, with great dialogue and some pictures of folks bums, where two people in despair, begin to form into a pair, then you'll find Rye Lane is probably the one; as Dom and Yas, kick-off their conversation, on London streets they wander round with animation, meeting exes who have hurt, plenty of teasing, taunt and flirt, Mooncups, strings, forgotten things, cause consternation.

What a wonderful piece of cinema, with two absolutely outstanding performances at its heart, a wave that effortlessly flows from start to end, genuinely laugh out loud funny, heartfelt and overwhelmingly gorgeous.

An unexpected treat. Director Raine Allen-Miller and the writing team of Bryon/Melia essentially de-construct the tired and shop-worn rom-com; then cleverly reassemble it in a form which seems fresh, new, and -- something quite rare for films this year - ENTERTAINING. The dialog is so sharp you could use it to cut open an Amazon package. Check out the line about the pitfalls of trying to impress your true love by letting chocolate melt in bed. And just when you think this can't get any better, you realize you are seeing a true breakout performance from Vivian Oparah, who immediately comes across as someone you want to know and spend time with. Highly recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))