Long Weekend – Movie Reviews by Ry!
Long Weekend – Time is Love: A Twist of Heart’s Folly
What is it that makes love, love? The endearment of life is filled with trials and tribulations, but the connections that are true can be ominous, even if for a moment. From the passing of what is to what can be, it can sometimes be more than expected. In this latest review, I look at a film that professes this question in an indifferent way. With a trivial beginning, the journey of two individuals becomes ominous at a fault. Long Weekend is a romance film that is simple in stature but becomes a mess of its heartfelt emotion.
Whit (Jess Jacobs) is a struggling writer who meets Vienna (Zoe Chao) on a random outing in the city. After a chance conversation, the two begin to find out that their meeting can mean more than what time permits. On the surface, this is the basic ‘guy meets girl’ formula built within flawed archetypes. Looking for a path forward, Whit is faced with trying to lift himself out of lostness and mental health issues. The first few moments (of the film) are convenient sequences meant for him to ‘fatefully’ run into Vienna. With this ‘chance’ encounter, they strike up conversations that lead to poignant but humanly invoked sequences of emotional folly and honest reflections. He feels there is something that brings them together, which starts to simmer within the familiar romance genre tropes. Even if the directive is predictable, the simple focus on Whit and Vienna provides a somber but hopeful embrace of the unexpected journey of what love is. This feeling reveals strength in their flaws, showcasing how their struggles are opening a window to new places. As they continue their courtship, things become more ominous as Whit realizes Vienna’s behavior is not typical. The blindness of comfort starts to wane as he must face the facts of what fate has brought him with who Vienna is.
The first half helps lay a foundation of familiarity of the romance genre. Predictability of ‘two lovers’ leading to some blossoming ending could have created something general but enjoyable. Once Whit learns the truth about Vienna, the second half turns into a clash of plot holes and overly dramatic sequences. There is a race against time motif that parallels the couples’ journey. The infused of unexplained/unwanted plot elements creates a convoluted web of forced exposition in a time of needed romantic development. The companionship is leveled out in terrible scriptwriting, showcasing an enveloping melodrama that is forced to a fault. As you head into the final act, it is derivative of the potential of the initial simple love plotline. This leads to a contrive climax that creates more questions than answers. Long Weekend is a romance film that had a potential enjoyable through line ruined by injecting unnecessary plot fodder. If you can look past certain twist, this can be an enjoyable night at home.
Full Score – 2.5 out of 5 (Friday Night Rental)