By Ian Kane
NR | 1h 15m | Comedy, Drama, Romance | 2018
Recent romantic comedies often fall back on shock tactics, such as gratuitous sexual content and coarse language that are inserted more for distraction than storytelling. The genre frequently feels more reliant on gimmicks than genuine charm.
British production “Across the River” gives a measure of optimism, as it favors the narrative over excess. The presence of Elizabeth Healey, an actress I’ve always found engaging, suggested this might be worth the investment of time.
Emma (Elizabeth Healey) is a woman on the go, in “Across the River.” GJW+
While the attempt at restraint deserves acknowledgment, the end result feels uneven. Some exchanges fall flat where they might have been affecting. Still, compared to the genre’s more disposable offerings, this film holds a trace of sincerity and a touch of uniqueness that lingers.
Awkward Conversations
Emma (Healey) is the kind of solicitor who could probably argue her way out of a parking ticket before breakfast, but on this particular day, she can’t even win against London’s transit system. With trains down due to a strike and taxis scarcer than unicorns, she just wants to get across the city in time for her daughter’s birthday.
Ryan (Keir Charles) and Emma (Elizabeth Healey), in “Across the River.” GJW+
She bumps into Ryan (Keir Charles). Their reunion doesn’t exactly sparkle. Ryan’s enthusiasm feels less like romance and more like that overly chatty stranger who follows you out of a coffee shop.
For the first few beats, it seems might Emma to dial the non-emergency police line. Then comes the twist. This isn’t some random guy, but her long-lost first love. That revelation softens the blow, though not quite enough to explain why he’s suddenly turned into her self-appointed chauffeur through central London.
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What follows is essentially the world’s slowest relay race. Ryan keeps coming up with ways to “help.” He loans her his bicycle (minus the front wheel, which was stolen) so she doesn’t have to wait on overstuffed buses.
Emma keeps trying to escape, only to get sucked back into his orbit by circumstance, bad luck—or maybe the script itself. Their conversations zigzag between sarcastic banter and awkward flashbacks. This leaves the sense that both of them might prefer to be literally anywhere else. Yet, neither walks away.
A Romcom Without Shortcuts
Missed connections: Emma (Elizabeth Healey) and Ryan (Keir Charles), in “Across the River.” GJW+
When “Across the River” began, I honestly wasn’t sure if Ryan was meant to be a romantic lead or just a man who didn’t understand the concept of personal space. His habit of shadowing Emma through the city felt a little unsettling at first. This isn’t in a horror-movie way, but in that awkward, “is this guy really still following her?” kind of way.
Once their past relationship comes into focus, his persistence makes more sense, though it still feels that he came on a little strong for someone who supposedly hadn’t been in her life for years.
What saves the film from wobbling too far off course is the natural chemistry between Healey and Charles. Their improvised dialogue doesn’t always sparkle, but it does carry a certain authenticity. The film feels like eavesdropping on two people trying to make sense of a shared history they never really resolved.
The moments that work best are often the simplest: an exchanged glance, a dry joke, or the visible discomfort of two people realizing how far apart their lives have drifted.
The decision to shoot guerrilla-style around London has mixed results. On the plus side, it grounds the story in a recognizable, lived-in setting that gives their wandering conversations some atmosphere. On the other hand, the handheld camerawork occasionally distracts. There are points where the film feels more like a rehearsal exercise than a finished piece.
The film’s charm comes in how ordinary it all feels, sometimes almost too ordinary.
There are lengthy stretches where it’s less like watching a movie and more like being stuck third-wheeling on someone else’s long, meandering reunion. But just when the conversations threaten to drift into monotony, a small laugh or an honest moment will pull it back, reminding you why you haven’t given up on the story entirely.
“Across the River” is available on GJW+
‘Across the River’ Director: Warren B. Malone Starring: Elizabeth Healey, Keir Charles, Liz Richardson Not Rated Running Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes Release Date: July 17, 2018 Rated: 3 stars out of 5
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