This Time Next Year (2024)

This Time Next Year (2024)

This Time Next YPear movie storyline. Minnie (Sophie Cookson) and Quinn (Lucien Laviscount) are born in London on New Year’s Day, in the same hospital, one minute apart. Their lives may have begun together, but their worlds couldn’t be more different. Thirty years later they find themselves thrown together again in the same city on New Year’s Eve. What if fate is trying to reunite them?

This Time Next Year is a romantic comedy film directed by Nick Moore and starring Lucien Laviscount and Sophie Cookson. It is an adaptation by Sophie Cousens of her novel of the same name. The cast is led by Sophie Cookson and Lucien Laviscount who were announced in April 2023.Also in the cast are John Hannah, Monica West, Golda Rosheuvel and Mandip Gill. Principal photography took place in Italy and finished in late 2023.

This Time Next Year (2024) - Sophie Cookson
This Time Next Year (2024) – Sophie Cookson

Film Review for This Time Rext Year

The film opens with shots of London at night with upbeat jingle music – it’s Christmas in the capital. The most magical time of the year – for some. We’re introduced to our bumbling, fumbling, Millie, who can’t seem to catch a break. Compare this to confident, charming, and lucky Quinn, we have polar opposite people. However, the two hit it off instantly, and from here on we have almost two hours of their lives falling apart, bringing them together.

The concept is a bit weird and weak – Millie is convinced Quinn stole her “lucky” name which is the reason for all her bad luck. They then build a friendship-relationship through getting to know one another, and in turn, making the other person better.

The acting is fun and fairly good, but there are scenes with awkward chemistry and odd shot choices. The two leads don’t always gel together well, and their building romantic attraction isn’t truly believable. However, the secondary characters make the film, like Quinn’s mum and Millie’s boyfriend and bakery team. They’re quirky, and well acted.

As the story develops, the characters have a depth and arc, which drives their friendship and romance along; but it takes forever to get there. For a rom-com the runtime is far too long, dragging out scenes and following secondary stories that needn’t be there as they add nothing to the viewer’s experience.

Many scenarios are hard to believe, and therefore hard to relate to and invest in. Simple things like spending the night on the bathroom floor of a club – you’re telling me not one girl needed the bathroom and found her? Nope. Bits like this might make you disengage, so take them with a pinch of salt.

With a predictable, happy ending, what do we learn? That love conquers all? If you’re looking for your soul mate, it could be someone born on the same day as you. Either way, it’s a wholesome and fitting end, and will leave you smiling.

This Time Next Year tells a tale of friendship, romance, personal growth and plays with the concept of destiny. While the film is filled with every rom-com trope under the sun, from unrequited love, broken friendships, failing businesses, to a very over-the-top proposal, it’s not without its charm. But it lacks the magic that Richard Curtis has always managed to capture in British rom-com films. But don’t let that stop you from watching. It’s definitely worth adding to your list.

This Time Next Year Movie Poster (2024)

This Time Next Year (2024)

Directed by: Nick Moore
Starring: Lucien Laviscount, Sophie Cookson, Anita Dobson, John Hannah, Monica Dolan, Golda Rosheuvel, Mandip Gill, Will Hislop, Charlie Oscar, Keala Settle, Jasmyn Banks, Didi Anderson
Screenplay by: Sophie Cousens
Production Design by: Francesco Scandale
Cinematography by: Luca Ciuti
Costume Design by: Chiara Aversano
Set Decoration by: Melissa Fasolino
Art Direction by: Illia Boccia, Myriam Ugarte
Music by: Michael Price
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Signature Entertainment (United Kingdom)
Release Date: June 3, 2024

Views: 51