by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What is the new fad in film? Making stories about COVID. The cinema and VOD have been flooded with films that utilize the pandemic as a central mechanism for their narrative, or filmmakers have just made the film specifically about COVID. There are documentaries that are taking audiences deep into the experience we are now just getting out of. The “webcam film” has become increasingly popular due to the restrictions during lockdowns. You have post-apocalyptic settings trying to capture the worst-case scenarios of the pandemic. There are even plenty of horror flicks popping up on the cheap. But the most abundant is romance.
Who wouldn’t want to fall in love during the pandemic? Apparently, film characters cannot resist the temptations. The biggest cliché that has developed is the awkward set-up of being stuck together in lockdown, getting on each other’s nerves, sleeping together in a moment of pure feelings, and then falling madly in love. Sounds about right, doesn’t it? Who needs holidays for prime romance plots when you can have a pandemic? Actress Katie Holmes saw the potential and took her shot at writing and directing Alone Together.
What does this film add to the above formula to make it stand out amongst the ever-growing herd? Not much. You can tell Holmes is playing it safe and sticking to the beats we are all comfortable with. There are even more romance tropes thrown in, including a big city girl adjusting to the quiet and nature outside the city. Of course, the two leads are either in or coming out of relationships. That always adds a little spice. But in many ways, it is a story of a writer from the city (Holmes herself) and a blue-collar guy (Jim Sturgess) coming together and helping each other realize they are who each other needs. Throw in some heartbreak, loss, and pandemic anxiety, and you have yourself a romantic drama.
How does Holmes translate her cinematic talents behind the camera? To be honest, there is no real personality in the filmmaking. Everything is well shot and lit without much style to speak of. Holmes takes it easy and leaves most of the engagement to our two leads. There are not a lot of romance films that go out of their way to deliver standout technical aspects, and Holmes follows suit with a relatively plain palette. The pacing is fine until the end of the second act arrives. There is a prolonged section of the film trying to portray one simple point. Unfortunately, that point is belabored for far too long and slows the film to a slog. There is some charm to the film (mostly from the leads) and there is a share of more dramatic moments to give heft.
Speaking of the leads, how do Holmes and Sturgess carry this story? Holmes has never been considered a great actress, but she has been fine in plenty of her works. She does the same here, as she is not the most charismatic or charming romance lead, but she has some solid chemistry with Sturgess. He also does a solid job as a relatively likable and fine romantic lead. I don’t think many will latch on and fall in love with the couple, but they do fine. Melissa Leo makes a few appearances throughout the film as Sturgess mother, and she is a good addition to any project. Derek Luke portrays Holmes’ boyfriend, and they have the chemistry of a wet blanket. You really question why they were together in the first place which bares down on some of the romantic tension in the film.
How does Alone Together measure up to the newfound subgenre of pandemic lockdown romance films? This one is REAL solid. If you like romance films, you got one here that checks the boxes. Nothing is done well in a sense, but everything does exactly what it needs (besides the third act having some pacing issues). Holmes shows some promise here, and she offers up a perfectly serviceable romance.
Score: 5/10
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