I shall start this review off with a confession, I have never really been a fan of the rom-com genre. Often I find these films very tedious, clichéd and predictable. Therefore, going into Sasha Collington’s debut film Love Type D I was unsure whether I would enjoy this film. I am happy to report that it is very charming, entertaining and is quite original in its approach to telling the typical rom-com narrative. Love Type D is genuinely a feel-good film that will leave a smile on your face even if you’re not a fan of romantic comedies.
The film is based on a short (“Lunch Date”) by Collington and built around the premise that some of us are unlucky in love due to our genetics. Our heroine is the quirky and slightly pedantic Frankie (Maeve Dermody) who has been dumped by her latest boyfriend Thomas (Oliver Farnworth). In actual fact, Thomas sends his 11-year-old brother Wilbur (Rory Stroud) to do the dumping on his behalf. When Frankie presses for an explanation as to why Thomas broke up with her, Wilbur informs her that it might be because of a new scientific discovery: a gene that determines whether you will be a dumper or a dumpee.
Frankie decides to do some more investigating, only to find that the scientists believe there’s no actual cure to this plight, those who are dumpees are doomed to be eternally alone and must be prescribed creative therapy. Wilbur has actually conducted his own research and has found that the condition can be reversed. The only catch is that the individual must go back out with all of the people they have dated in the past in order to dump them to awaken the ‘dumper’ gene. This is easier said than done as Frankie quickly experiences trouble trying to win Thomas back.
Collington’s film has a lot to say about the current state of modern dating, where people seem hellbent on finding “the one” no matter what the cost. Frankie’s behaviour is questionable as her antics get wilder and wilder. Collington seems to be bringing our attention to how ridiculous the traditional romantic comedy format can be, and as a result, you can almost read Love Type D as a satire on the genre.
Certain elements of the film are extremely unbelievable, but that’s kind of the point. This is a film which wants us to go away and look at romantic comedies in a new light, especially in how the behaviour of the main characters in these films can be considered as borderline sociopathic in some instances. In this respect, Love Type D is a film with a lot of depth which is possibly something that many people will overlook and write the film off as being another run-of-the-mill rom-com (it really isn’t).
Maeve Dermody is a delight as Frankie, her lively delightful and breezy performance helps keep us investing in the film even when the narrative begins to lag. Her scenes with Stroud are perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of this movie, as she turns to him for help with her issue. Stroud’s earnest, academic Wilbur is an absolute scene stealer and generates the most laughs with his deadpan delivery. The issue lies with some of the supporting cast who seem a little too thin in places, and there are slightly too many characters for the viewer to keep track of.
The film is bright and colourful to look at, thanks to the film’s production design by Judith Thomson and costume design by Mimi Milburn-Foster. It is also worth mentioning the film’s cinematography by Christopher Schneider, who really helps capture this quirky hyper-real world. The only slight criticism is regarding the film’s runtime which seems a little too long, with the second and third acts dragging ever so slightly. Although, it was refreshing to have an ending that didn’t follow the standard rom-com format, proving that there’s more to life than finding ‘the one’.
Collington has certainly proven that she can easily make the transition from short film to the feature film format, and it will be interesting to see where she goes next in terms of genre. Overall, Love Type D may not be to everyone’s tastes as the quirkiness and over-the-top comedy may be a little tiring for some. However, this is a film which is the perfect feel-good film for the soul, and sometimes it’s just nice to have a little light-hearted comedy in your life.
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