Romcoms are definitely back in season. “The Love Hypothesis” film based on the novel by Ali Hazelwood was released on September 23rd and has already taken over many social media platforms. Fans are quickly reacting to the story of the movie and the swoon worthy romance. As a movie, I’d say it hit all of my preferred boxes for a successful romantic comedy. As an adaptation, it slightly missed the mark.
The story follows the fake-dating relationship between Olive Smith (played by Lili Reinhart) and Adam Carlsen (Tom Bateman). Olive is a Ph.D. candidate who kisses the department’s most feared professor, Dr. Adam Carlsen. They strike up a mutually beneficial fake dating agreement, but along the way their chemistry blurs the lines of what is fake and what is real.
As I noted, looking at the film from an external lens I thought it was a very cute movie. I really liked the chemistry between the actors and thought the film was made with a high level of care. In movies, it’s easy to tell if it’s made in the eyes of audiences or critics. I am happy to say, the filmmakers definitely had the audience in mind. The ending for me was a little rushed, but I was by no means expecting a three hour overly detailed romcom.
The original “Love Hypothesis” book was published in 2021, and I read it closely after. I can confidently say that this was one of the few novels that truly got me into reading, so it is an understatement to say that I hold this book close to my heart. The nerdy characters are so adorable and a little socially awkward to read about, it makes the book even more enjoyable.
In the film, I thought the connection between Adam and Olive was great. The actors portrayed their little personality quirks very well and there weren’t any scenes I didn’t like between the two of them. Another thing I think the film did well was showcase female friendship, specifically in the STEM world. Olive and her friend Anh (Rachel Marsh) portrayed a beautiful and emotional friendship throughout the film, one that everyone would dream of having. I am glad Anh received an adequate amount of screen time; she brought life and laughter to her scenes with Olive and the rest of the cast.
One thing worth pointing out was how well the film displayed the intimacy scene between Adam and Olive. In the original novel, the first time Adam and Olive are intimate with each other has a special place in the hearts of its readers. Adam is a perfect gentleman and we see how well the two compliment each other. Since the movie was rated R, I was excited to see if that specific scene would be left in. It’s safe to say, I wasn’t disappointed. I’m not ashamed to admit I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. The filmmakers also made sure to include a certain line from the book that was extremely memorable, which made my jaw drop and my smile go from ear to ear.
For people who haven’t read the book, I think they would really like the movie on its own. For those who started with the book, like me, it is almost easier to think of the film as its own separate entity. The longer I spent comparing the book to the film, the more differences I found.
Without giving anything away, it was a little frustrating not seeing a character from the original book or the level or groveling and yearning Adam displayed for Olive. Additionally, the end of the overall conflict (again no spoilers here) wasn’t nearly as satisfying in the movie as it was in the book.
As a reader, not much else can be said aside from the simple fact that I wanted more. I wanted to see more of the moments I loved from the original story and I wanted even more romantic moments between our love interests. I understand that when making an adaptation the storyline has to differ slightly so that the film audience stays engaged. However, I think some elements, like characters and scenes, should have stayed the same as in the original novel.
I asked a few of my friends and family who watched the film what their thoughts were, and unsurprisingly I received the same answers. Those who had read the book felt like parts of the story were missing, and those who had not simply appreciated a new romcom to swoon over.
I think as a film, it did a wonderful job exploring different character dynamics and relationships. The relationship between the grumpy Dr. Adam Carlson and sunshine Olive Smith definitely made me want to rewatch the movie as soon as the credits started to roll. However, if you’re a die-hard fan of the original novel, you shouldn’t expect a shot-for-shot remake of what you fell in love with. Instead of focusing on what was missing, enjoy what was actually made, because what you’ll be left with is a new favorite romantic comedy.