'Romance in the Wild' (2021)
Opening thoughts: Actually saw 'Romance in the Wild' a while back and wasn't impressed by it at all, but with music commitments and being behind on my reviewing at the time it took me a while to review it. Very nearly forgot about it, until coming across its very poor follow up 'Christmas in the Wild' as part of my Christmas completest quest without realising at first that that was a sequel. Decided to watch it again, immediately after watching that and disliking it, to give it a fairer chance and to compare.
Unfortunately, 'Romance in the Wild' was not much better on re-watch. Actually thought it was worse, with all the flaws found first time still problems and bigger (which the sequel repeated just as poorly), while finding more along the way. UPTV were responsible for quite a number of above average films, Christmas and not, but they were also responsible for a fair share of misses. When they missed, they did so big time. They did so here in what is for me one of their worst.
Good things: The scenery is nice, but there is nothing else good to say about it.
Bad things: Despite the scenery being nice, it is wasted by the chaotic editing that constantly jumps around and the poorly framed and equally un-cohesive photography. The direction is unfocused and never seemed to be in complete control or that engaged with the material.
Which unfortunately is incredibly weak. The dialogue throughout is heavy in cheese, is very flat and never flows. The story never picks up momentum, suffers from a complete lack of tension and has no charm or heart. There is little atmospheric about it and everything is taken too seriously.
The characters with no exception had little to no development and had bland or/and grating personalities, with exaggerated negative traits and groan inducing decision making. Calling the acting bad is being generous, nobody looks comfortable and it was like the cast knew the material was bad and decided to not try.
Closing thoughts: Overall, very poor.
2/10.
