by Shane Conto
Who is ready for another rom-com starring a group of young actors?
To be honest, Natalie Krinsky’s new film The Broken Hearts Gallery is actually a rom-com you can get excited about! But what about this film should get you excited? Is it a stacked cast of young and charismatic actors who really bring their “A game”? Is it the relatable themes of getting over heartbreak and finding ways to let go of the things that will remind you of it? Or could it be the fun concept of a gallery where people share their memories and put the items marking their heartbreak away? This little film has all of these going for it and then some.
This film is a little gem to catch from none other than producer Selena Gomez.
This is the directorial debut of filmmaker Natalie Krinsky and she does a really fine job of bringing this film together. The Broken Hearts has a great sense of energy that really carries the audience on this romantic ride. You almost forget that this film is around 110 minutes. Many of the scenes centered around interactions among our lead, Lucy, and her friends are full of electricity.
The love story at this center of this film is surprisingly earnest, as I was audibly rooting for their first kiss. I have absolutely no shame in admitting that.
Krinsky really knows how to capture the finer details of friendships among women and I look forward to seeing more films from her. The overall aesthetic of the film centers around neon lights and they bring a vibrance and life to the proceedings.
The real stars of the film are…well the stars of the film. Geraldine Viswanathan is an incredible young talent who has shown great comedic chops in Blockers and Miracle Workers and serious dramatic chops in Apple’s Hala. Viswanathan gets to balance those two aspects of her acting in this one as she has great comedic timing and has a few emotional moments. Dacre Montgomery shows great promise as Viswanathan’s love interest. They have great chemistry together which really shines in one particular (and slightly awkward) karaoke scene.
Every moment that Viswanathan’s Lucy spends with her friends is an absolute gem.
Molly Gordon provides a unique energy that is just infectious…and only slightly scary. Phillipa Soo exudes confidence as she is the group’s lady killer (a refreshing depiction of a strong and relatable LGBTQ+ character). The film shines when all three are on screen. Filling out the cast are some strong performances from Utkarsh Ambudkar, Nathan Dales, and Arturo Castro (a particular standout). Hell, Bernadette Peters is in this and somehow looks at least 30 years younger than she actually is.
Krinsky also provides the screenplay for this little rom-com and has a mixed effort.
The dialogue is impressive and hilarious. I laughed…a lot. The banter between so many of the characters pop and provide such a fun experience. I honestly wish I could join the friend group. What brings the film down from being a huge standout in the world of rom-coms is that it leans heavily into predictable plotting and nothing is particularly surprising along the way. But how much does that matter? In the end, it should matter too much when you are really enjoying the ride. Will this film change anyone’s minds about rom-coms? Probably not. Will it be a fun time watching some great friends experiencing the relatable treacherous waters of heartbreak? It certainly does.
Grade: B-