I'll start of by addressing two key facts about this movie. First of all, I haven't read the book despite knowing many who have so I have gone into this with fresh eyes and am viewing it as a film (which is good, because it is, well, a film.) Secondly, there has been a lot of talk and criticism about Anne Hathaway's "Leeds" accent. Granted, it wavers from thickly Yorkshire to quaintly posh but bless the girl for having a good old hearty stab at it and you have to give her kudos for trying (although it is crap.) But fair play to the girl because it doesn't waver from a truly touching romantic movie.
One Day is based on 2010 best seller of the same name by David Nicolls (he also wrote the screenplay for the film.) It centres around one day, July 15th, over several years and the developing relationship between the two best friends, Emma and Dexter. Despite spending the night together on their first meeting (their graduation day,) they don't become romantically involved but instead stay in touch as friends. As their lives go in different directions, through many ups and downs, they still keep that bond full of banter, love, flirting and yearning.
The premise for the book and a film is a new one and keeping a very strict law on the whole One Day aspect gives a fresh outlook on the warn out genre of romance. We get to watch a very realistic growth of a relationship and that is much to the writers credit; there isn't an aspect of this movie that feels over the top. But a lot of that realism is centred on the wonderful acting of Hathaway (Emma) and Jim Sturgess (Dexter.) There is not only a wonderful chemistry between the two as they play off friendly insults with brilliant wit and unrequited love but they add a convincing charm to both their characters that you are pulled deeply into their bond. From the tears to the laughter, it is genuine to believe the friendship between the two completely different people. The particular highlights would be Emma's secret tender joy as Dexter becomes physically closer on occasions and Dexter's drunken states which aren't played extremely but layered with the pain and subtlety. Hathaway and Sturgess are two very remarkable actors.
But that is where the film stops being brilliant. The aspect of one day works for a couple of moments but then the concept runs out of steam becoming boring, repetitive and tiresome. Also, a lot happens in a year and sometimes more, so we lose some depth of the characters as they become different people yearly. And there are many contrived conversations that try to explain what has happened in the 365 days we don't see. Though they may work in the book with the ability to write the back-story, the random moments that we are enlightened to seem forced. Furthermore, there are many relationships that haven't enough detail for us to care about but the film begs us to. For example, so much weight is balanced on Dexter and his parents. Although his father's is played delicately with quick moments, his mothers (and the most important) feels brushed under the table. Whats more is that with any romance movie there is the predictability and it is fair to say we know the ending (sort of) from the beginning. One Day, however, has a rushed feel about it as though the prior years don't matter to the inevitable ending for the two characters and for those uneducated about the film, it will lose you.
While this may be a faithful adaptation of the book, it is fair to say without that prior knowledge the film has moments of tedium and confusion. Director Lone Scherfig does well and yet misses the mark completely. There isn't enough to boost this film from a good standard to a great one but there was a lot of potential. Fans will be content and happy because the heart of the film is still there. Maybe that is what is important here and if heart isn't enough, go see it for two of the most stellar performances of this year.
3/5
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