Can a song save your life? The Greatest Hits hopes so.
In The Greatest Hits, Harriet (Lucy Boynton) is still devastated after the tragic death of her boyfriend, Max (David Corenswet). But when she realizes that her favourite songs transport her back in time, she sets out on a mission to make things right. As she travels between timelines, her world is changed again when she meets David (Justin H. Min), a young man who seems genuinely interested in her. As the two begin a complicated relationship, Harriet begins to wonder if changing the past is really what’s best for her future.
Directed by Ned Benson, The Greatest Hits is a charming but challenging romcom that upends the tropes of the genre. Told over two timelines, Hits effectively balances its playful romance with a surprising level of gravitas. This is a film that wants to create the adorable charisma of romcom couples yet imbues each moment with the burden of hurt. It’s a delicate tightrope to walk yet Greatest Hits manages to keep things moving.
Much of the charm of the film stems from some strong work by Boynton. Tasked with connecting with two different male leads, Boynton brings out different aspects of her character with both men. With Max, Boynton brings out the seriousness in Harriet, as her heart commits more deeply in every scene. But with David, she brings a mixture of play and guilt as she begins to connect with her potential new love yet feels the shame of moving on. Both require Boynton to tap into different aspects of Harriet’s persona, all while leaning into the heaviness of her grief.
Admittedly, the greatest hit within this film is its willingness to sit within the perils of grief. Having dealt with the pain of losing her boyfriend, Harriet finds herself trapped within her suffering. Like a skipping record, her search may seem to keep her moving forward but she remains stuck in a loop. Every song, every moment, of her life revolves around Max’s death. Blaming herself for his passing, she is consumed with her search and she spends her nights listening to their greatest hits in an effort to fix the past.
But, in doing so, she’s also missing out on the present.
Harriet’s entire existence is focused on what she’s lost. While one can’t ever put a clock on how long someone ought to grieve, time has passed yet Harriet seems unable to let go over her guilt and hurt. Every track that she hears has the potential to cause ripple effects within her soul and, as such, she carries fear with her constantly. As a result, she struggles to connect with her friends and, potentially, begin to find new love on the horizon.
But Greatest Hits is willing to sit with Harriet, patiently allowing her to heal at her own pace. There’s a great deal of grace offered to her as she pieces together her story and must choose the direction of her future. Beyond the meet-cutes and romcom vibes, it’s this aspect of the film that leaves a mark on the viewer most, offering encouragement to those who are experiencing deep emotional losses.
It’s this complex relationship with sadness that makes the joys of The Greatest Hits’ romcom moments unique. Like all of us, these characters have real feelings that make moving forward more difficult, especially when we’re stuck in the past.
The Greatest Hits is available in theatres on Friday, March 1st, 2024.
