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    Movie Review

    Romance and tragedy make a potent mixture in Chemical Hearts

    Alex Bentley
    Aug 19, 2020 | 4:30 pm
    Romance and tragedy make a potent mixture in Chemical Hearts
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    Teenage romances are a tricky thing to pull off. On one hand, the allure of young love is something that is universal, and thus eternal. On the other, the lasting power of teenage relationships is notoriously low, so putting stock into them, even in the fantasy world of movies, is a fool’s errand.

    Chemical Hearts, based on the 2016 novel Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland, is a tragic love story where most of the tragedy happens before the two main characters meet. Henry (Austin Abrams) is a high school senior whose longtime goal was to become the editor of his school newspaper. His plans are altered when Grace (Lili Reinhart), a transfer student, joins the staff and is named co-editor by the faculty advisor.

    Grace, who uses a cane following a car accident, is initially sullen and withdrawn, but gradually opens up thanks to Henry’s kindness and persistence. As the two grow closer, the reasons for Grace’s gloominess become clearer, putting a crimp in their burgeoning relationship. Henry must try to navigate Grace’s ever-changing moods, while Grace tries to keep herself from falling to far into the darkness.

    The film is the sophomore effort by writer/director Richard Tanne, who also wrote and directed Southside by You, which detailed Michelle and Barack Obama’s first date. This one takes a little while longer to get going, but once Tanne establishes Henry and Grace’s bond, it grabs hold of the viewer and doesn’t let go. Even through the barrier of Grace’s physical and mental pain, the chemistry of the two characters is evident.

    Still, the trauma resulting from Grace’s car crash puts a cloud over the entire story, which is as much about her depression/PTSD as it is about the growing feelings between her and Henry. The complicated nature of her feelings about Henry become all the more complex when you bring in the other parts of her life, which contain events that are unenviable, to say the least.

    The film is not quite as successful when it comes with dealing with Henry’s quirky group of friends, who work alongside Henry and Grace at the newspaper. One, Muz (C.J. Hoff), is a cypher who only seems to exist to show that Henry has a male friend of some type. The other, La (Kara Young), is gay, and is given her own will they/won’t they romance with Cora (Coral Peña). However, the film doesn’t quite have enough energy to spend on their relationship, so it comes off as inclusion merely for the sake of inclusion.

    Abrams has built up a nice resumé in the last few years, starring in the underrated Brad’s Status and impressing in guest roles on both Euphoria and This is Us. He’s not a dynamic performer, but he’s steady and reliable, which makes him interesting. Reinhart, best known as Betty on Riverdale, turns in a nuanced performance here that makes her someone to watch in the near future.

    Romance tinged with tragedy is a staple of young adult movies in recent years, and Chemical Hearts fits right in with the best of them. It never tries to be much more than what it needs to be, delivering a story that touches the heart in multiple ways.

    ---

    Chemical Hearts debuts exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on August 21.

    Austin Abrams and Lili Reinhart in Chemical Hearts.

    Austin Abrams and Lili Reinhart in Chemical Hearts
      
    Photo courtesy of Amazon Studios
    Austin Abrams and Lili Reinhart in Chemical Hearts.
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    Movie Review

    Dark comedy Friendship covers male bonding with copious cringing

    Alex Bentley
    May 16, 2025 | 4:16 pm
    Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in Friendship
    Photo courtesy of A24
    Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in Friendship.

    Comedian Tim Robinson has gained a cult following thanks to series like Detroiters and I Think You Should Leave, in which his brand of cringe comedy is on full display. The former Saturday Night Live writer/performer has had a few small movie roles over the years, but he’s now getting his first starring role in the off-kilter Friendship.

    Robinson plays Craig, a mild-mannered suburbanite with a wife, Tami (Kate Mara) and son, Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer). Craig has a boring life that involves little more than going to his middle manager job while wearing the same clothes day after day, anticipating the next Marvel movie, and helping Tami out with her at-home floral business.

    He gets a jolt of energy when Austin (Paul Rudd) moves into the neighborhood. The two men seem to hit it off, with Austin - a weatherman at a local TV channel - even taking Craig on a couple of impromptu adventures. But when Craig commits a couple of faux pas at a group gathering at Austin’s house, their bond starts to fracture.

    Even though the film is written and directed by Andrew DeYoung, it’s clear that Robinson had a big influence on the style of comedy it features. There are no big set pieces with a slew of jokes coming one after another. Instead, the film forces the audience to try to vibe with the very particular type of wavelength it’s giving off, one that could almost be called anti-comedy for the way the laughs come out of left field.

    The 100-minute film is full of random comedic moments, like Steven kissing Tami on the lips, Craig being obsessed with his plain brown clothes, a group sing-along, and more. More often than not, it’s the way Craig reacts to both normal and abnormal situations that gets the laughs. The character is needy and oblivious, two traits that combine to make many of his actions cringeworthy.

    Perhaps most importantly for this type of movie, there are many things in the story that go unexplained or don’t make sense. Seemingly crucial elements are brought up only to fade away just as quickly, while other parts that appeared to be throwaway sections get callbacks later in the film. DeYoung and Robinson are determined to keep the audience on their toes the entire time, never knowing what to expect next.

    Robinson has the perfect face for a story like this, one that’s bland enough to blend into the background but memorable enough to sell the jokes. His demeanor is also excellent, never becoming too expressive, even when he gets angry. With long hair, a mustache, and a certain swagger, Rudd is a great complement to Robinson. Only in a film like this would an everyman like Rudd be considered the suave and cool one.

    There will be some that will see Friendship and come away wondering what the hell they just watched. But anyone who goes in knowing that they’re about to witness a comedy that challenges their sensibilities will likely have a great time.

    ---

    Friendship is now playing in select theaters.

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