Review

The movie has an unusual story structure and concept that would’ve worked a lot better if not for a lot of basic mistakes. Regardless of the problems, the story, songs and Anna Kendrick make it watchable.

The cinematography is so misguided, inconsistent and even jarring in too many places. The style lacks harmony, experimenting with too many different techniques.

Anna Kendrick steals every scene, belting out the songs and acting rings around everyone else. Jeremy Jordan is fine, but it felt they were acting in different movies; one serious, one jovial.

It was a song-driven clement version of Blue Valentine.

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I’m normally a sucker for slow, deliberate and almost mechanical camera work, but this technique didn’t fit the opening scene. There was a high degree of dissonance compared with the emotional tone from Anna Kendrick and the piano-driven ballad.

The second song was much better, upbeat and colourful, with flowing camera movement complementing of the scene. Although the “ex-lovers” segment was a little strange. There was energy and smiles harmonised with the song.