by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What is the worst possible statement to hear from your significant other? We Need to Talk… a new rom-com coming your way with a video game spin. That statement will cause anxiety in the best of us as we need to process what they could possibly want to talk about. Most of us go to dark places and think that things are going to come to an end. This anxiety-inducing experience is the anchor for this new romantic comedy which is aptly named… We Need to Talk.
So, what about this new romance makes it stand out from the hundreds of other romance tales out there? Narratively… not much. But this film does have a deep-seated involvement with video games and gaming. Our protagonist, Scott (James Maslow), is a pro gamer and reviewer whose significant other, Aly (Christel Khalil), drops those fateful words before going off to work. With Aly’s phone left at home, Scott is forced to reflect continuously all day and perseverate. Whether brainstorming ideas with friends, freaking out on kids, or bickering with his editor/friend, Joe (Johnathan Fernandez), Scott must process his relationship and see what he can do to salvage it.
What does writer-director Todd Wolfe bring to the table in this film? From a direction standpoint, the visuals are bland and flat. This looks like a TV show on network television most of the time. Tonally, there are some issues as well. Most of the film is silly and over the top with its humor. But then the film expects the audience to get emotional in its third act, and at that point it is a tough sell. The film also feels melodramatic in the way it attempts to convey those feelings. Not to mention that it plays out beat-for-beat exactly how you expect it to. Honestly, the only real fresh twist is that fact that it is draped in gamer references (which can also be quite cheesy and on the nose).
What about the cast? Most of the cast feel a bit on the amateur side. They read their lines fine, but they don’t bring a whole lot extra to the roles they are portraying. Maslow generally does a fine job of carrying the film. He does not quite have the presence to really command the screen on his own. Fernandez gives the most in terms of acting, as he helps anchor some of the more emotional moments for the first two acts. Khalil has limited screen time, but delivers some strong emotional beats in the later parts of the film.
Does We Need to Talk deliver something worth waiting for? This setup is simple and straightforward, capitalizing on it mildly. There is nothing new or fresh about this rom-com, but there is just enough for fans of the genre (and maybe a little extra for the fans of gaming, too). Overall, this one is just nothing to write home about.
Score: 5/10
You can follow Shane Conto on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd