Review: ‘Getting To Know You’ is an emotional journey and you need to see it this holiday season.

Getting To Know You

It’s an unusual request.

Another guest at the small-town hotel where Abby Sorensen is staying asks her to pretend to be his wife. Just for a few minutes. He flew from New York to reignite the flame with his old high school girlfriend, the beautiful, impetuous Kayla, only to discover she’s now married with two kids. But Kayla decides she wants him after all, and has shown up at the hotel drunk and demanding sex. But Luke isn’t a homewrecker, so if Abby, a married woman in town for her estranged brother’s funeral, could just say she’s his wife the problem will be solved.

What could go wrong? It’s not like two strangers pretending to be husband and wife could possibly fall in love….

Starting off with a bang (literally, zero puns intended) this story about two people desperate to connect is enchanting. Encompassed by the worst hotel staff you’ll ever come across, Luke and Abby are marooned with their sadness and stories and one another. Until some unexpected high school friends reenter the scene. This small town is filled with secrets and some insanely intense locals. It’s completely unexpected and a total delight.

Sarah Blanchard holds nothing back as an unhappily married woman who comes back to take advantage of Luke’s profession of love. She is over the top. She is hilarious in her aggression. Her comedic timing is on fire once all three are in the same room. It’s magic. Rupert Penry-Jones as Luke is a wonderful foil for Natasha Little. Their chemistry is perfection. I cannot imagine anyone else in this role now that I’ve seen him. Isn’t that the ultimate compliment? Natasha Little is the true star of Getting To Know You. Her physical comedy, her delivery, simply everything about her genuinely grounded backstory is brilliant. She plays it close to the vest but the hurt is written in every glance. It’s lovely to watch pure talent.

The film takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. It’s at times quite melancholy, undeniably laugh out loud hilarious, and completely breathtaking. You get a slice of everything in this screenplay spectacularly written and directed by Joan Carr-Wiggin. It’s about loss and regret. It’s about kindness and feeling seen by another person. It’s about taking one crazy chance on happiness again.

 

GETTING TO KNOW YOU stars Natasha Little (War of the Worlds, Night Manager, Vanity Fair), Rupert Penry-Jones (M.I.5, Persuasion), Rachel Blanchard (You Me Her, Fargo), Linda Kash (Best In Show), and stand-up comedian Mark Forward, along with Duane Murray, Ace Hicks, Zach Smadu and Christopher Jacot.

The film was written and directed by Joan Carr-Wiggin (The Bet, If I Were You).

Gravitas Ventures will release GETTING TO KNOW YOU on VOD and Digital platforms including iTunes, Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango Now, and all major cable/satellite platforms on Tuesday, November 24.  The film has a running time of 1:43:16 and will not be rated by the MPAA.