Oh, Hi!

 

Imagine you met someone, you hit it off and by date three, you feel you’ve found your person. Months deep into a relationship, you take a romantic trip together, only for this to go completely off the rails and result you committing a crime and dragging your friends into it as well. But the worst part, who you thought was your person doesn’t actually feel the same way. This is the premise of Oh, Hi! We’ve seen films where dating is difficult, degrading and miserable but something positive happens in the end or at least hopeful.

We’ve seen films with dramatic break-ups, tragic breakdowns and all that’s in-between. We have even seen films where you think you’ve found love only for it to sour almost too quickly and suddenly, which is sort of where Oh, Hi almost sits in the realm comedies with romance mixed in. But what Oh, Hi! has is one small thing to set it slightly apart, handcuffs. Co-written as well as starring Molly Gordon as love struck Iris who goes on a weekend getaway with her boyfriend Isaac, played by Logan Lerman. But after a day and night of fun, food and sex, Isaac lets out that he doesn’t see their relationship as serious, let alone as boyfriend and girlfriend. This devastates Iris who ends up having a bit of a meltdown and tries to convince Isaac why they should be a couple. This would all be ok if it wasn’t for the fact that Isaac is handcuffed (after kinky sex play) to a bed and Iris refuses to let him free. At least, not until he’s heard her out.

While the scenario of being kept prisoner by the woman you thought you were casually dating would be anyone’s worst nightmare, the film does very well to not fall into the horror category. Iris merely believes they are meant for each other and just wants Isaac to give her a chance. This is wear the comedy is and thankfully stays throughout, especially when Iris realises what she’s doing and how bad the situation is. Roping her best friend and her boyfriend into the mix just adds to the comical and yet dire situation, particularly for Isaac. As well as the comedy, the film does take a couple of bizarre turns; when Iris seriously considers murdering Isaac to avoid any embarrassment and when the third act includes a car chase.

There are more quiet moments that avoid the film slipping into ‘crazed woman’ territory. Iris is genuinely heartbroken, as she states many times, that she was made to believe by Isaac that their relationship was more than just casual. She points our his behaviour and planning a romantic getaway definitely sends the wrong message. They recount tender moments they’ve shared, showing that Iris’ behaviour is quite so unwarranted. What makes this relationship so believable and at times easy to hope for is that Lerman and Gordon have fantastic chemistry, even when things become chaotic. Of course we know what Iris is wrong, we also don’t want her to end up in prison for kidnapping.  

Although there are some far-fetched moments, you become invested in all the characters and really hope for an ending that satisfies all.