It is not an unfair statement to say that I am fond of the romantic comedy genre; it hits a sweet spot for my personal taste and certainly can be charming and enjoyable even if it is far-fetched and schlocky. Not being much of a reader, I have never read the 1774 novella that the film Young Werther is based upon, but if the movie is a faithful adaptation of the stories, then the novella truly must be the smash hit many claim it to be. While the overarching romance is a tad questionable on all accounts, the movie, led by completely adorning performances, never loses its charm and admiration.
The film focuses on Werther (Douglas Booth) and his much younger friend Paul (Jaouhar Ben Ayed) as they travel to Toronto from Montreal to retrieve a gift for Werther’s mother from her late mother which her sister has out of spite. While wanting to see a little bit of Toronto, he goes solo to a gelato shop where Werther stumbles upon a man getting decimated by the charming and well-read Charlotte (Alison Pill) as she stops his unwanted advances on her 18-year-old sister, Sissy (Iris Apatow). Werther is completely enamored with Charlotte and is astonished by her beauty and wit. He gets invited to her birthday party by Iris and friend Melaine (Amrit Kaur) where he thinks he has a chance with the newly-declared love of his life.
L-R: Alison Pill as Charlotte and Douglas Booth as Werther in YOUNG WERTHER. Photo courtesy of TIFF 2024.
Unknown to Werther at the time, Charlotte is actually engaged to a lawyer, Albert (Patrick J. Adams), but being the hopeless romantic he is and determined to be with Charlotte, this does not deter Werther in any way, shape, or form. While he never makes the first move, he is continuously, infectiously flirting with Charlotte reciprocating the flirtation despite her status, all while Albert is completely oblivious to it all or he simply does not care, until something happens and things start to get incredibly messy.
Writer and director José Lourenço has his work cut out for him in writing and directing this classic novella and as his first feature film. He certainly knocks this romantic and dramatic comedy out of the park, and that’s coming from an audience member who does not know the source material. It’s a lovely and heartwarming tale of romance that takes a turn and becomes a character study while emphasizing to ensure humanity knows when to separate work from home life and find the right balance. It’s a truly timeless story that isn’t afraid to show the ugly side of things and embrace the chaos, emphasizing that not everything is always sunshine and rainbows.
However, the classification and identity of the movie would be lost if the cast itself were unable to bring their performances together to create the world for the audience to find themselves lost in and engaged with. Alison Pill (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World; Snowpiercer) is magnetic as Charlotte, the woman who thinks she has everything she wants in life until someone comes along and shows her the world she actually deserves. We also have Iris Apatow (The Bubble; Knocked Up) and Amrit Kaur (The Queen of My Dreams) playing the sister and friend, respectively, who want what’s best for Charlotte while also acknowledging the situation she has now found herself in. While Patrick J. Adams’s (Old School; Suits) performance is nearly identical to that of his character from Suits, it lacks the conviction and mundanity that the character has written across their forehead. It is Douglas Booth’s (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) undying spirit, charisma, and astatic enthusiasm for the world that brings Young Werther from another “love-struck boy meets girl he cannot possibly have” movie to the wonderful and charming movie that Young Werther ends up being. This is going to strike a high note with the usual romantic comedy/romance audiences, but even for those whose hearts are usually cold and disgusted by this type of fare will have a hard time not cracking a smile and being whisked away by the endless charm and whimsey delivered by Young Werther.
Screening during Toronto International Film Festival 2024.
In theaters, on VOD, and digital December 13th, 2024.
For more information, head to the official Toronto International Film Festival 2024 Young Werther webpage.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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