An entertaining modern day Before Sunset
A sleeper hit from the 2023 release calendar, the Disney+/Hulu original Rye Lane has marked down first time feature director Raine Allen-Miller and her two stars David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah as bright newcomers with their romantic dramedy that shares much DNA with the Before trilogy a fun and breezy watch that is sure to be enjoyed by a wide cross section of viewers who stumble across it.
The recipient of two BAFTA nominations and a huge swag of British Independent Film Award nominations and wins, Rye Lane is a small and intimate genre offering with a hip and charming energy that unwraps over an eventful day in the lives of Jonsson's Dom and Oparah's Yas as the two young souls connect over recent shared break up stories and wondering minds that are questioning their place in the wider universe of life.
With some unconventional and funky camera work from D. O. P Olan Collardy and fun score from composer Kwes, Allen-Miller's creative team instil a lot of extra ingredients to what boils down to be a rather familiar plotline with relatively as to be expected quirky happenings and conversations but the film constantly keeps things feeling fresh whether its backyard parties, karaoke drop-ins, meeting's with ex-partners or questionable art exhibitions, ensuring that Rye Lane adds its own flavour to a well-trodden pathway trodden out by genre heavyweights.
Helping the films cause greatly is the performances of Jonsson and Oparah, two performers prior to this effort that were best known for their work in British TV productions with Oparah in particular utilising her turn as Yas as a star-making vehicle, likely to see her in the Hollywood system in the very near future with industry players no doubt keen to tap into some of the charm, sass and vibrancy she brings to the feisty Yas here.
The more adventurous and spontaneous of the two potential lovebirds, Yas is a loveable creation that makes for a charming co-host on our trip around South-London and whenever the film starts to get bogged down slightly in its brief 80 minutes of runtime, Oparah is never too far away from stealing the spotlight once more and helping ensure that Rye Lane is a small film with a big heart and enough creativity to stand out from a crowded field.
Final Say -
An undeniable basic film with a small scope, Rye Lane manages to embed its familiar narrative hook/set-up with enough imagination and creativity to make this a memorable day trip in London as well as unearthing three new talents you'd expect to go onto bigger and better things in the not too distant future.
3 1/2 neck headphones out of 5
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)
The recipient of two BAFTA nominations and a huge swag of British Independent Film Award nominations and wins, Rye Lane is a small and intimate genre offering with a hip and charming energy that unwraps over an eventful day in the lives of Jonsson's Dom and Oparah's Yas as the two young souls connect over recent shared break up stories and wondering minds that are questioning their place in the wider universe of life.
With some unconventional and funky camera work from D. O. P Olan Collardy and fun score from composer Kwes, Allen-Miller's creative team instil a lot of extra ingredients to what boils down to be a rather familiar plotline with relatively as to be expected quirky happenings and conversations but the film constantly keeps things feeling fresh whether its backyard parties, karaoke drop-ins, meeting's with ex-partners or questionable art exhibitions, ensuring that Rye Lane adds its own flavour to a well-trodden pathway trodden out by genre heavyweights.
Helping the films cause greatly is the performances of Jonsson and Oparah, two performers prior to this effort that were best known for their work in British TV productions with Oparah in particular utilising her turn as Yas as a star-making vehicle, likely to see her in the Hollywood system in the very near future with industry players no doubt keen to tap into some of the charm, sass and vibrancy she brings to the feisty Yas here.
The more adventurous and spontaneous of the two potential lovebirds, Yas is a loveable creation that makes for a charming co-host on our trip around South-London and whenever the film starts to get bogged down slightly in its brief 80 minutes of runtime, Oparah is never too far away from stealing the spotlight once more and helping ensure that Rye Lane is a small film with a big heart and enough creativity to stand out from a crowded field.
Final Say -
An undeniable basic film with a small scope, Rye Lane manages to embed its familiar narrative hook/set-up with enough imagination and creativity to make this a memorable day trip in London as well as unearthing three new talents you'd expect to go onto bigger and better things in the not too distant future.
3 1/2 neck headphones out of 5
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)
- eddie_baggins
- May 25, 2024