The ‘Rom-Com’ is forever being challenged. It’s a genre that will never truly die and continue to evolve or in the case of Molli and Max in the Future, take an idea from the past and twist it. Inspired by When Harry Met Sally, at least the format and nature of the two leads relationship and set in an overtly futuristic world, Molli and Max is both a homage to the rom-coms of old and a step towards the evolution of the genre.
Set a billion years in to the future, magic is common place, sentient robots conduct PR campaigns and a demon wants everyone to live in the trash dimension. Over 12 years, 4 planets, 3 dimensions and one space cult, Molli and Max keep bumping into each other. As time goes by, they each change, but their emotions usually stay they same, though they won’t admit it.
A science fiction rom-com is always a welcome addition to the saturated genre, especially when its both light and incredibly dark. The balance is well maintained throughout the entire film and never really teeters over into depressing which can happen in with any kind of romance. Molli and Max each go through their own struggles, but always find each other at the right time. The chemistry between Zosia Mamet and Aristotle Athari is fantastic, their quips and fast paced talking is well matched. Combining the true romance and comedic undertones is very entertaining to watch. As well as the leads there are some amusing and fun supporting characters that help build this strange future world, that itself is fascinating. There seems to be some new dimension or magic level that opens up, the possibilities seem endless.
Molli and Max is the unexpected sci-fi rom-com that you didn’t know could be actually challenge the genre.