One Day: A Love Story That Takes Its Sweet Time
Picture this: you meet someone on the day of your graduation, and you think, “Wow, what a connection!” But then, instead of a rom-com, you find yourself in a long, drawn-out drama that feels more like a marathon than a sprint. Welcome to One Day, where we follow Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew on their annual rendezvous every July 15th, which, spoiler alert, is less about romance and more about dodging commitment like it’s a game of emotional dodgeball.
Our protagonists, Emma and Dexter, meet in 1988, and while Dexter is busy being a self-absorbed charmer (think of him as a discount Hugh Grant), Emma is the quintessential “girl next door” with a sprinkle of awkwardness and a dash of ambition. They share a night of passion, which leads to… absolutely nothing, because why would a movie about love actually let them be together?
The film cleverly skips through the years, showcasing their lives on the same date, which is a bit like watching a time-lapse of a plant growing, except the plant is confused about what it wants to be when it grows up. Each meeting reveals that while Emma is struggling to find her purpose (and, let’s be honest, her self-esteem), Dexter is bouncing around from one shallow relationship to another, all while being a minor celebrity on a reality show. Because nothing says “true love” like a guy who thinks he’s too cool for school.
As we fast-forward through the years, we see Emma evolve into a strong, independent woman, while Dexter remains a lovable mess. Their reunions are filled with awkward tension, missed opportunities, and the kind of chemistry that makes you want to scream, “Just get it together already!” But no, they’re too busy with their emotional baggage to notice the giant neon signs saying, “Hey, you two belong together!”
Then comes the twist that no one asked for: after years of miscommunication and emotional gymnastics, Dexter finally gets his act together, only to have fate intervene in the most tragic way possible. He learns that Emma, the love of his life, has passed away. Cue the dramatic music, because nothing says “let’s wrap up this love story” like a sudden death. It’s like the filmmakers thought, “Hey, let’s give the audience a good cry and throw in a dash of life’s unfairness!”
In the end, we’re left with Dexter wandering through life, realizing that love was there all along, but he was too busy being a charming idiot to see it. So, if you’re in the mood for a film that teaches you the valuable lesson that life is short, love is complicated, and you should probably just communicate more effectively, One Day is your ticket. Just remember: if you meet someone special, don’t wait for July 15th to tell them how you feel. Otherwise, you might end up with a heartwarming tragedy instead of a happily ever after.