That's Amor review: Riley Dandy, Isaac Gonzalez Rossi serve up a predictable, clichéd, yet endearing rom com

2.5/5

Story:

Sofia finds her life turned upside down on her 30th birthday. After being fired from her job, ending her relationship and breaking her leg, all on the same day, the aspiring graphic designer moves in with her mother to heal from her emotional and physical wounds. After being dragged to a couples cooking class by her well meaning, yet pushy mother, Sofia finds herself drawn to young chef Matias. As the two start to get to know each other, Sofia finds herself finally starting to heal.

Review:

That’s Amor is unabashedly transparent in the way it panders to rom com lovers. A single glance at the film’s plot and viewers can safely make certain of the kind of film they’re in for. But despite its predictability and the fact that the makers seemed to have put zero effort to include anything with a semblance of originality into its premise, That’s Amor proves to be an endearing watch for rom com enthusiasts.

Sofia is the kind of protagonist you’d expect from a run of the mill rom com. She’s charming enough to be likable, and her life choices are just chaotic enough to inspire sympathy. After getting fired from her job and finding her boyfriend cheating on her, Sofia is forced to move back in with her mother. Of course like any proper rom com protagonist, she decides to swear off men and finds herself stuck in a rut. And who better to pull herself out of her slump than a man she barely knows, whom she strikes an explicable chemistry with, and who just happens to be just what she needs.

Enter Matias, a striking young Spaniard with an annoying habit for making food related analogies every chance he gets. A chef by profession, Sofia conveniently enters his life just when he finds himself in two minds about his supermodel girlfriend, Irina. Naturally, the latter is shallow and selfish, so Matias’ attraction to Sofia despite having a girlfriend becomes ‘justified’.

That’s Amor moves forward just the way viewers would expect to and follows the done to death rom com formula to a tee. From the unexpected return of their exes, to the eventual rift between Matias and Sofia as the latter decides to ‘put herself first for once’, to the climactic chase before a grand gesture of love, it is as if the writers decided to put together all rom com cliches in one place and randomly chose the ones to put into the film. Every single character is an example of a familiar trope of the genre, right down to the sassy best friend.

But despite these shortcomings, the film turns out to be a surprisingly delightful watch, most of it owing to the incredible performances of its cast, who breathe life into the cliched tropes in a way that audiences end up being in love with them. Riley Dandy as Sofia breezes her way through the film and her performance is definitely one of the reasons why the protagonist turns out to be so likable. Her chemistry with costar Nancy Lenehan, who plays Sofia’s mother, is certainly one of the highlights of the film. The mother daughter duo steal every scene they’re in, and their dynamic even surpasses Sofia and Matias’ at times. Isaac Gonzalez Rossi too tries to make the best with what he is given, which sadly isn't enough. Although Matias is as bland a love interest as any, Rossi’s charm shines through.

Verdict:

That's Amor is strictly for viewers with a penchant for romantic comedies, with a story that is nothing but a range of overused cliches stitched together. The cast manage to go above and beyond with what little they are given when it comes to their characters, and the film ends up becoming a charming watch, but only if one already has a soft spot for rom coms.