In Someone Like You, rural architect Dawson Gage (Jake Allyn) has always been in love with London Quinn (Sarah Fisher), even if she hasn’t felt the same. Now, a decade later, the two finally seem to be on the same page romantically… when suddenly tragedy strikes and that opportunity is lost. But Dawson yearns to find some piece of her and, upon discovering that she has a twin sister name Andi (Fisher again), embarks on a journey to meet her. Having been separated during their parents’ IVF procedure, Andi has never known about her ‘other life’ and the news rocks her world. As Dawson brings Andi to meet her birthparents, she begins to dive into the home that she never knew and potentially uncover an attraction that she never expected.
Directed by Tyler Russell, Someone Like You is a delightful romance that charms the audience with its sweetness. Co-written with Karen Kingsbury (and based on her novel), the film is warms itself with heart and wraps itself within its innocence. Unlike recent R-rated romcom Anyone But You, this is a story that finds its appeal within its spirit of romance as opposed to any wild set pieces or raunchy comedy. For some, this simply may not appeal to them. But, for others, there’s joy in its simplicity and earnestness. From the opening title scrawl, Someone Like You wears its heart on its sleeve and there’s a certain beauty in that.
Admittedly, the film rests on the performances by its stars. This style of romance can be hit and miss if its leads are lacking in chemistry but, thankfully, Russell has found strong co-stars in Allyn and Fisher. Together, the two make delightful romantic pairings (and the use of plural is intentional) onscreen. As Dawson, Allyn plays the broken-hearted lover as, well, broken. Having lost his deep love, he is hardly a hero as he interferes with London’s parents and their secrets. However, he is also seen as a young man worthy of redemption as well.
Admittedly though, the brightest star is Fisher who lights up the screen as the two sisters. As both London and Andi, Fisher is (almost) entirely unrecognizable, bringing both women to life with very different personalities. As a viewer, this makes for some very interesting moments with Allyn as the two must reconcile their romances distinctly from one another. It’s a unique challenge but the two are able to find the joy in their characters, giving joy to their journeys together.
Having long been a best-seller in the faith market, Kingsbury’s romance novels always incorporate religious elements into her storytelling. However, unlike some faith-based products, she works hard to make sure that these moments don’t become too agenda-driven or ‘preachy’. Instead, these conversations are designed as pieces of her characters personalities but doesn’t necessarily dictate the story. (For example, while Dawson attends church regularly, London informs him that that’s not necessarily for her.)
As with all films of this nature, love is the ultimate goal for these characters. This is a story where characters are looking for their ‘match’, regardless of their DNA. Even so, love is rooted in something more than romance, even when things are tough. (In fact, the film opens with a quote by C.S. Lewis that suggests that, “if you love deeply, you’re going to get hurt badly. But it’s still worth it.”) It’s here that Kingsbury incorporates her faith as a device to carry her characters through difficult moments. After all, this is very much a story about devastating loss and their beliefs give them an anchor in the midst of their emotional storms. For these characters, faith is an opportunity to give meaning to their moments and provide hope when things are most difficult.
Because, in Someone Like You, love never ceases to be the star that they pursue, even if it’s going to be a difficult journey to get there.
Someone Like You is available in theatres on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024.
