One More Time

I randomly came across this movie and thought I'd give it a chance. I usually don't have high hopes for these types of movies, they're more of just something to throw on. However, I was pleasantly surprised with this one. The nostalgia was so fun to watch. I'm 32 so I grew up around the same time. The set design, costumes, hair and makeup, music choices, etc. Were really well done. Took me back in time! The story also had me reflecting on my past and things I could relate to growing up as well as now. Pulled at the heart strings for sure, but had silly moments too. I would recommend it, also recommend watching it in the original language not dubbed.

As "One More Time" (2023 release from Sweden; 85 min) opens, Amelia is celebrating her 18th birthday. We then skip to day, as Amelia celebrates her 40th birthday. She quits her lousy retail job and instead goes to the pub to get drunk. Afterwards she fumbles and stumbles, and gets hit by a truck. When she wakes up, it's her 18th birthday again... At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this Swedish film liberally borrows and steals from Groundhog Day, even putting in Groundhog Day as part of the storyline. It also reminds of 19 Going on 30. In other words: this movie does not shine because of its (lack of) originality. But what it does do, and very well at that, is to showcase how a 40 yo woman looks back at her 18 yo self, and sees the many mistakes that she made back then. So the movie is filled with regret and it makes you realize that, when you get down to the very essence, the thing that matters more than anything else is: BE KIND to one another, starting TODAY.

"One More Time" started streaming on Netflix just the other day. At a mere 85 minutes, this movie just flew by, and I quite enjoyed it, more so that I had expected. If you liked Groundhog Day or 13 Going on 30, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

On her 40th birthday, Amelia is hit by a bus and wakes up in her bed to her parents singing "Happy Birthday". She reluctantly realises that she is 18 again and that the year is 2002. Her best friend Moa is throwing a party for Amelia, who turns out to be the popular hot girl ("every boy in school is in love with you" as one of them shyly tells her). In her 2024 (?) life not so much, she is bored, alone and feels lost in her adulthood. However, Amelia has to relive her 18th birthday over and over again with slight variations - in a very well known manner. (Plus: the movie has a few peculiar resemblances to Mårlind and Steins sadly underrated "Storm" (2005), more on that below.)

Nice story, nice acting, nice setting and costume (pink and pastels in abundance), nice 2002 markers, "nice" everything. The soundtrack is nice too. You get it.

"One More Time" could've been a complete disaster, painfully drowning in niceness - if it weren't for one thing: Hedda Stiernstedt in the lead, as Amelia. She alone carries the movie on her shoulders and makes it quite watchable, albeit immensely predictable. Stiernstedt is an absolutely perfect cast for this role, even at 35 she has the youthful look that actually works ... with just a grain of suspension of disbelief.

Well, the story is... nice, and keeps rolling in well-familiar tracks. If it's worth your time depends on how much you are into feel-good coming-of-age romantic drama, and how much pink/pastels your eyes can stand. And yes, if you are a fan of Teddybears Sthlm (I am!) it helps, too.

With that said, it wouldn't hurt if Netflix levels up the request for writing skills, just a tad or so.

Similarities to "Storm"? A certain kind of accident in key scenes, and moreover: the answer is hidden in a secret box. Yup.

My first review ever. Need to share my feelings!

If you liked (loved) Vinterviken. You'll like this one!

I'm turning 40 next year so the same age as the main character. My God! Nostalgia!!

This wasn't the best movie ever, but for me the best nostalgia ever!!

A combination of 13 going 30, Groundhog Day and Vinterviken. But Swedish. But from a small town.

I feel good afterwards. And happy of all the details of nostalgia!! The music, the clothes, the hair-extensions, the tummy bracelet, etc.

I also admire the producer for having actors in the exact age as supposed age. I think that is perfekt!

First, you need to know that this whole thing wraps up in a lesbian love story. Getting so tired of Netflix suggesting movies to me as "romance" but isn't what I am looking for. They need to have separate section for that. That being said this movie is objectively bad on its own.

The movie straight up rips off peggy sue got married / groundhog day. Amelia is 40 today. Her life is a mess. She works retail and is poor. Sitting at a bar after being fired from her retail job she runs into Fiona... a former childhood friend with the same birthday who is a successful rich singer. This leads Amelia to head to a time capsule both had buried when they were like 10 - where she is hit by a truck and ends up on her 18th birthday -- which forms a time loop she can't escape.

Amelia is a horrible person. Rude to her friends even as a mature adult. Not great to her parents. In fact when she realizes (after watching groundhog day) that she needs to be nicer to people... she does that for one day and that is it. The rest of the time she acts like an idiot.

Amelia finally gets out of the time loop after realizing Fiona was in love with her at 10. And she heads off to get right with that in present day. What? What? As if that is going to make everything wonderful? Huh? Of course Fiona has never given up on her 10 year old love and now they are all set.

This whole thing doesn't make a lick of sense.