Meet Cute in Manhattan (9/10)

by Tony Medley

92 minutes

NR

This is one of the more unusual screenings I have attended. Normally, in Los Angeles, critics’ screenings are held in one of three locations, a studio like Fox or Disney or Sony, a screening room and there are many scattered around Los Angeles, or a theater. This one was at the AMC in Century City. As is usual pour moi, I was early, the first one there. But there is always a desk in the lobby where critics can check in and get their tickets and passes for free popcorn and a drink if they offer that.

There was no sign-in desk when I arrived. So I went to the ticket taker and told him I was there for a screening. He just said, “upstairs, theater 10,” and let me in. I entered the theater which was empty except for three or four people standing just inside the entrance, one of whom was a young woman who was dressed to the nines. I said, “wow, you look beautiful!” Somehow the subject of popcorn and drink came up and they asked if I hadn’t received

a text with the ticket. I said no. So the woman who was so well dressed pulled it up on her phone and texted it to me.

I put my jacket on the seat I wanted and went to the lobby to get my treats. But the attendant said he didn’t know anything about free treats for a screening. All the people with whom I had conversed then arrived and they told the attendant that they had arranged for treats, so he called his manager. As we waited, I asked one of the ladies who the woman was who was to well-dressed. She said that she was her daughter, who was the Director of the movie! She said she was 23 years old and had graduated from NYU film school. I was stunned, but also thought that I was probably in for a long evening since this was her first film and she was so young.

All this is a prelude to telling you about the film. It’s the story of Jason Lin (Terence Chen), who is a fledgling actor who wants to write and act in romcoms. He is asked to audition for a dating app commercial about two people who “meet cute” and fall in love.

Enter Nora Dawson (Kendall Leary), who is studying to be an architect but is working as a barista in a coffee house. Jason, who is in a relationship, meets her. She is also in a relationship but somehow he convinces her to go to the audition with him and they get the part, and the film tells how life imitates art as true romance is slowly enkindled as the commercial goes viral and more and more are made.

Directed by Karen Morey from a script by her and Chen, it is a professionally made delight. Chen and Leary are fine actors. While Chen gives a good performance, I was blown away by Leary. I can’t think of an actress who could give a better, or more intricate performance than she gave. Her facial and eye expressions are tantalizing and exquisite, capturing the many emotions her character is feeling.

The script is very good. This could have been a really hokey story, but the telling is nuanced and believable. Morey is a director with a bright future, and I think that Leary will become a star. Even the sets are exceptional. There is one location in an apartment with an eye-boggling pink motif. With all the junk that is out there, this one is a sparkling star. If you want to see a movie with a bunch of unknowns who are destined for success, this is it.

Just before the movie started, I asked Karen for a picture, and she enthusiastically agreed. After the film as we exited, I was the first one out, following Chen who had said a few words after the film ended. He held the door for me and I told him that I really liked the movie but have one criticism. He asked what that was and I told him that the music was too loud and often drowned out the dialogue, especially in an early scene set in Grand Central Station. He appreciated the suggestion and said they would try to correct that.

As an irrelevant postscript, someone stole my popcorn as I was having my picture taken with Karen.