Love, Rosie review: Sam Claflin and Lily Collins's romantic comedy

Director: Christian Ditter; Screenwriter: Juliette Towhdi; Starring: Sam Claflin, Lily Collins, Christian Cooke, Tamsin Egerton, Suki Waterhouse, Jaime Winstone; Running time: 102 mins; Certificate: 15

Will they? Won't they? Can men and women ever just be friends? Are they going to make it to the airport on time? Just about every romantic comedy cliché gets ticked off in Love, Rosie, a new British film based on Cecelia Ahern's novel Where Rainbows End. The destination may never be in doubt, but thanks to likeable performances from stars Lily Collins and Sam Claflin this predictable film has a heart and soul that keeps it watchable for the duration.

The two up-and-coming leads play Alex and Rosie, school pals whose tight bond is more brother/sister than boyfriend/girlfriend. A kiss between them on Rosie's birthday is forgotten thanks to the effects of alcohol, and the duo carry on as normal, making plans to head off to America together once their A-levels are out of the way.

This quickly falls apart, though, as Rosie falls pregnant by schoolmate Greg (Christian Cooke) and decides against moving Stateside. While Alex is off studying to become a surgeon, Rosie keeps him in the dark about her daughter and he eventually falls for Tamsin Egerton's Sally.

Love, Rosie's protagonists each seem to be riding on two sine waves that never quite manage to cross over. Director Christian Ditter and screenwriter Juliette Towhidi throw all manner of obstacles in their way to prevent them from getting together. The action plays out over the course of 12 years, tracking the leads from the ages of 18 to 30, with Claflin and Collins displaying an easy screen chemistry that you feel could be enjoyable to revisit in future films.

At times Collins feels a little too young to be convincing as a harried single mother, but she's a funny and lively presence in a part that's an easier fit than many of her past roles. Her co-star Claflin is affable as lovelorn Alex, and the film tends to flounder when they aren't together on screen - a problem considering for much of it they're separated by the Atlantic.

The supporting cast are largely hit-and-miss - Egerton shines as Alex's high-maintenance fiancée, while Jaime Winstone is impressive as Rosie's best friend Ruby.

Love, Rosie plays out a little like a cross between a Richard Curtis film and One Day without ever managing to find its own groove. This is an enjoyable if weightless piece that will please romantic comedy fans, but struggle to speak to the unconverted.

Simon Reynolds

Movies Editor 

Simon has worked as a journalist for more than a decade, writing on staff and freelance for Hearst, Dennis, Future and Autovia titles before joining Cision in 2022.