Stay the Night

Loved this fresh take on a romcom format that both incorporates what we love best but also elevates the form with real characters and complex story. Saw it in Toronto and also had fun playing 'spot the location' with beautiful views of the city and nice location choices. Good chemistry between the actors and especially enjoyed the performance by Andrea Bang whose grappling with her reserve and emotional sides seemed very real and relatable. Ending had just enough surprise in it to keep me guessing yet still be satisfied. Already recommended to my fellow romcom friends and looking forward to sharing the link when it streams.

Romance genre tends to target tweens or young adults, but adults need it, too. When romance films are set in the workplace from a woman's perspective, they usually talk about being tired of dating or passing the 'appropriate' age to get married. However, 'Stay the Night' shows Grace starting fresh and having a flutter in her heart. ROMANCE itself. Chemistry between two protagonists is wonderful, and it is a successful debut feature film for both actors and a director. (I do not like the ending, and I do not get how one character can change that rapidly, but... oh well, director's choice.)

five characters short.

A story of two people whose paths cross after each has had a life-changing day. They "meet cute" and spend a memorable, adventuresome night on the town (Toronto) helping each other get perspective. Seems like a setup and there's undeniable chemistry, but Stay the Night doesn't follow the path you might expect. Highly recommended!

I saw this movie via the SXSW Film Festival online, and it might have been even more interesting to see it with an audience.

Wanted a romance but not the saccharin formula of a Hallmark movie. Saw STAY THE NIGHT had a good score on IMDB with an Asian lead and decided to give it a try. The sights and sounds of Toronto's night life is background as they hop around from bars, restaurants, hotels and airports.

Definitely the couple have good chemistry. They meet at a low point in both their lives and through the night, they get close, share raw topics, help each other and a friendship and romance develops. The little twists and turns make you want more and that's always a good sign. At the end, each character grows a little and they're left better off than if this chance encounter had never happened and you wonder, what would happen if there was a sequel.

I stumbled across this movie late one night and was thoroughly obsessed until it ended at 3am. I recognized Andrea Bang from Kim's Convenience, but Joe Scarpellino is new to me. Both were perfectly natural and comfortably uncomfortable in their roles as two lonely young souls facing the daunting uncertainty of existence in our modern world. The sparks fly as they find an unlikely friendship in each other.

Stay The Night is sweet without being sappy. You feel the very genuine chemistry and affection between the leads despite the story maintaining a realistic take on dating and hook-up culture. The plot is largely driven by dialogue and we slowly learn about and warm up to the characters as they do with each other. Some might find this type of film a bore, but this is the kind of romance that I live for. Their feelings develop out of their mutual curiosity to know each other as people, rather than the usual trope where characters form a bond due to being thrown at each other as a result of implausible circumstances and crazy escapades.

As an Asian woman, it's always heartening to see another Asian woman represented as a main character. The director, Renuka Jeyapalan, is also a South Asian Canadian woman, and her love for the city of Toronto absolutely shines throughout the film. And as a Canadian girly who loves hockey, thank God they cast an actor who actually plays hockey for the role of Carter. At one point they show a little glimpse of what Joe Scarpellino can do on the ice and it's clear to anyone who plays that the dude can skate.

I will be watching this on repeat as it has replaced all other romcoms in my roster as my number one comfort movie. Thank you to all involved in this film for this absolute gift.