Rye Lane (2023)

By: Mike Ward on Sunday, April 16

R Running Time: 82 mins

SHOULD I SEE IT?

YES

Takes the familiar trappings of a romantic comedy and flips conventions just enough to make this a funny, charming winner of a movie. This should have been given a theatrical run.
Director Raine Allen-Miller offers a wonderful debut, providing a unique and distinctive approach to Rye Lane that speaks to the potential of continued and even greater success.
In Vivian Osparah and David Jonsson, we have two leads who are easy to like, easy to root for, and, for all their quirks, are characters we can connect to.

NO

You should see the film, it’s wonderful. However, since Disney and Searchlight Pictures dropped it directly to Hulu, without a subscription to Hulu - you’re going to have a tough time to catch up to a wonderful little film.
Despite huge acclaim, the few detractors Rye Lane has will point to a sense that the film eventually embraces all the romantic comedy trappings it steers away from for much of its running time.
There’s a goofy way about it that might throw viewers off who prefer a less modern, stylish approach to romantic comedy movies and films in general.

OUR REVIEW

While some are celebrating the return of movies and rising box office revenue, I'm left wondering how a charming indie film like Rye Lane would have performed in theaters in, say, pre-COVID times. I can picture the film receiving a staggered release, starting in a few big cities and expanding as positive word-of-mouth and buzz amplified.

However, post-pandemic, Rye Lane never got a chance to groundswell an audience. Despite huge acclaim coming out of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Searchlight Pictures, a Disney subsidiary who acquired the film, dropped the film on Hulu, a Disney-owned streaming service, relying on the Hulu algorithm to drop the film onto subscribers' landing pages. It's a shame, because Raine Allen-Miller's directorial debut is a rather brilliant and wonderful film that deserves to be seen.

What makes Rye Lane so special? For one, the performances are authentic and endearing. The film's unique editing style, with quick cuts, flashbacks, and asides, perfectly captures the characters' thoughts and moods. We follow Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah) as they spend a day together, bonding over their shared experiences of recent breakups. Along the way, they learn about each other, navigate the complexities of their past relationships, and even fake being a couple to help Dom face his ex-girlfriend and former best friend.

The film is vibrant and engaging, with a terrific script from Nathan Byron (“Ghosts”) and Tom Melia (“Hollyoaks”), drawing us into Dom and Yas's world in South London. Allen-Miller's talent for storytelling is evident in every scene, and the chemistry between the two leads is palpable. The conflict that arises may prove typical of romantic comedies, but the way each scene plays out feels genuine and satisfying.

A love-at-first-sight kind of film. Allen-Miller has crafted a delightful debut and I can't wait to see what she does next. Largely on the backs of our two leads, aided by a fantastic surprise cameo and a handful of supporting characters who keep Dom and Yas on their toes, it really is unfortunate Rye Lane is nothing more than a choice that may or may not appear before you when you log on to Hulu.

Here’s hoping you find each other. You won’t be disappointed.

CAST & CREW

Starring: David Jonsson, Vivian Osparah, Simon Manyonda, Karene Peter, Benjamin Sarpong-Broni, Malcolm Atobrah

Director: Raine Allen-Miller
Written by: Nathan Byron, Tom Melia
Release Date: March 31, 2023
Searchlight Pictures/Hulu

Takes the familiar trappings of a romantic comedy and flips conventions just enough to make this a funny, charming winner of a movie. This should have been given a theatrical run.

Director Raine Allen-Miller offers a wonderful debut, providing a unique and distinctive approach to Rye Lane that speaks to the potential of continued and even greater success.

In Vivian Osparah and David Jonsson, we have two leads who are easy to like, easy to root for, and, for all their quirks, are characters we can connect to.

You should see the film, it’s wonderful. However, since Disney and Searchlight Pictures dropped it directly to Hulu, without a subscription to Hulu - you’re going to have a tough time to catch up to a wonderful little film.

Despite huge acclaim, the few detractors Rye Lane has will point to a sense that the film eventually embraces all the romantic comedy trappings it steers away from for much of its running time.

There’s a goofy way about it that might throw viewers off who prefer a less modern, stylish approach to romantic comedy movies and films in general.