ONE TRUE LOVES

SYNOPSIS: Simu Liu (Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings), Phillipa Soo (Hamilton), and Luke Bracey (Point Break) star in this modern twist on a classic love story from NY Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid. Emma and Jesse are living the perfect life together until Jesse disappears in a tragic helicopter crash on their first wedding anniversary. Four years later, Emma has found happiness again and is about to marry her best friend when Jesse resurfaces, turning her world upside down and leaving her torn between two great loves.

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Emma faces an impossibly complex scenario. ONE TRUE LOVES puts the audience in the shoes of a woman torn in opposite directions through memory, loss, and love.

Luke Bracey plays Jesse, a photographer who returns with PTSD. His anger, bitterness, and assumptions sabotage a return to normalcy. Bracey takes us along on a journey that provokes real questions. Simu Liu is Sam. He is a high school orchestra teacher. His scenes are funny, charming, and self-deprecating. I would have happily watched an entire film about him and his students. I request a spin-off. Phillipa Soo plays Emma, a former travel writer. At the urging of her older sister, Emma uses books to heal. Soo is enchanting as she embraces change. She brings a timeless leading lady energy. You will fall in love with her sincerity. 

The script would benefit from more scenes establishing the strength of Emma and Sam’s bond. The humor comes from Sam’s endearing and feisty conversations with his students. These scenes are genuine and hilarious. The film probably needs one or two at the beginning to establish Sam as a fully fleshed-out character, which only happens much later in the plot. Additionally, I would have loved to see Sam pining away for Emma as a kid. These nitpicky issues speak to the editing as a whole. The narrative is tricky as we jump in time. It could use a bit of reworking, in my opinion. I would watch this story as a series. There is so much to dig into.

ONE TRUE LOVES has all the makings of a Hallmark classic; a quaint New England town, a bookshop, grief, and a love triangle. It speaks to the nuance of relationships, not just romantic but familial. It addresses the concept of growing apart rather than together. In a world where divorce is statistically high, ONE TRUE LOVES dares to challenge the audience’s moral compass and sense of loyalty. It is a glorious springboard for Phillipa Soo, letting audiences experience her range from stage to screen.

ONE TRUE LOVES will be in theaters on April 7th and on digital April 14th.

IN THEATERS: April 7, 2023
ON DIGITAL: April 14, 2023
ON DEMAND: April 28, 2023
DIRECTOR: Andy Fickman
WRITERS: Taylor Jenkins Reid, Alex Jenkins Reid
CAST: Phillipa Soo, Simu Liu, Luke Bracey

RUN TIME: 100 minutes
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Romance, Drama, Comedy
DISTRIBUTOR: The Avenue