The long awaited movie adaptation of The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood premiered on September 23rd on Amazon Prime Video. The book, magnified in popularity by a large BookTok audience, follows Olive Smith, a biology Ph.D. student at Stanford University, as she blunders into a “fake relationship” with the brilliant — and exceptionally stern — Adam Carlsen (Dr. Evil to his students).
The film stars Riverdale actress Lili Reinhart and Murder on the Orient Express actor Tom Bateman as they engage in the mutually beneficial dating scheme — Olive, to get her best friend to not feel guilty about seeing another guy, and Adam, to convince his department that he has serious ties to Stanford in hopes that they may renew his research grants.
The cast was announced in July of last year, sending fans into a frenzy. Lili Reinhart was beloved from her previous projects, and fans trusted her with the role of portraying Olive Smith. Tom Bateman, however, brought a different kind of excitement.
A fact unknown to the average reader or viewer: The Love Hypothesis was originally a fan fiction for Kylo Ren and Rey, the protagonists of Disney’s Star Wars sequel trilogy. Ironically enough, Tom Bateman happens to be married to Daisy Ridley, Rey’s actress. The coincidence thrilled the true fans aware of the origins of the novel.
As for the details of the film, the scenery was brilliant, although partly unrealistic. While Olive lives in an apartment flat in the original book, she was portrayed to live in a large, off-campus house for the duration of the movie. Albeit undeniably cozy, viewers were quick to comment on the unfeasibility of a graduate student being able to afford such an elaborate home. That said, who watches romantic comedies for authenticity anyway?
Tom Bateman’s portrayal of Dr. Adam Carlsen was undeniably stiff, and fans were left split in opinion. While some argued that he was merely portraying the rigidness of the character, others insisted that it left an awkward plague on the dynamic between the love interests. Although both claims may be partly true, I would have loved to see Bateman take a more natural approach to the role.
But what cannot be disputed is the eminence of Olive and her best friend Anh’s relationship throughout the film. It was Anh who forced Olive out of her comfort zone, becoming her first friend in graduate school. Through labs and lectures dominated by men, Anh and Olive’s supportiveness for one another became the foundation of the story.
And it’s Anh who we have to thank for the story of The Love Hypothesis even existing, as Olive would never have engaged in the “fake dating” façade with Adam had she not felt compelled to ensure the happiness of her friend.
It’s these moments that make romance stories truly resonate with us. Maybe you don’t have the memory of being involved in a fake dating scandal with a professor in your Ph.D. department at Stanford University. But, likely, you can relate to the strong female friendships that are so characteristic of youth, and the lengths that you would go to keep each other happy.
If you’re looking for something revolutionary or new, this film is not that. That said, I highly recommend making time to enjoy it. With its unrealistically charming scenery, witty banter, and affectionate friendships, it has every familiar attribute of a romantic comedy too homey to say no to.