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By Izzy Pezzaioli.
British rom-coms are back with Alicia MacDonald’s Finding Emily. The Manchester-centred film follows Spike Fearn’s character Owen, a young musician who meets his dream girl in the student union bar, but when her phone number is missing a digit, he teams up with psychology student Emily, played by Angourie Rice, to try anything he can to find her.
The film feels nostalgic yet modern all on one screen; it captures attitudes and anxieties of modern young adulthood, as well as giving the feeling of a classic romantic comedy that we all know and love, yet rarely see today. The two main characters in the film have awkward and uncomfortable moments, which is a contrast to the perfect couples often presented in romance films. Both Owen and Emily feel like real people you could meet while at university; they capture the essence of young adults who are still finding themselves, questioning their identity and finding love. Spike Fearn and Angourie Rice have wonderful on-screen chemistry, creating a captivating love story for viewers.
MacDonald uses the setting of Manchester as a main part of the story. From student bars to university campuses, the story travels all over the city. However, this is not a typical backdrop for a film; the city is used as a character in itself, the student culture being an essential part of the story. It breaks away from the usual tourist-based perceptions of Manchester and shows it through the eyes of someone who lives there. This gives the film the authenticity that many romantic comedies lack; the story is grounded in a real place, rather than showing an idealised version of the city. The busy nightlife, independent shops and historic streets all contribute to the film’s charm, creating a love letter not only to Manchester, but to the experience of finding yourself within the city.
The story is not full of surprises, and anybody who is familiar with romantic comedies will understand where the plot is going before even watching the film. However, Finding Emily is a film that understands this and focuses on the journey between characters, not how it will end. The film embraces all the typical tropes of the genre, rather than trying to move away from them, which ends up working in its favour, resulting in a narrative that feels warm and familiar to viewers, while remaining relevant to modern audiences.
While Finding Emily does not bring a groundbreaking new story to cinemas, the film is a strong example of a hilarious British romance that is appealing to audiences. With brilliant performances, relatable characters and an affectionate view of Manchester, Finding Emily is the nostalgic rom-com we’ve all been waiting for.
