Love Hard
netflixWhile Hallmark might have defined the cheesy, paint-by-numbers Christmas film genre, Netflix has undeniably become the king of it with easy access and endless releases overwhelming nearly anything else out there during the season. Less than a week after the conclusion of Halloween, already audiences are subjected to its steady flow of holiday releases, with Hernán Jiménez's Love Hard kicking off the season. Natalie Bauer (Nina Dobrev) lives in LA and has turned her romantic unfortune into career success by writing about her experiences on the internet. Bauer isn't ready to give up, however, and seemingly finds the perfect man in Josh (Jimmy O. Yang) on a dating app. They have amazing chemistry, can talk for hours, and are definitely physically compatible according to Josh's photos, but when Bauer flies to his family home to surprise him for Christmas, his secret is revealed. While Josh has been authentic in conversation, the photos he used really are from his former friend Tag (Darren Barnet). Bauer agrees to act interested in Josh until Christmas for the sake of his family as long as Josh helps set her up with Tag, but along the way, a connection is formed.
Deliciously by the numbers, it is hard to argue that Love Hard delivers everything one could want from this genre. While the film might not find any shocking developments or revolutionary thesis, it is an incredibly watchable and fun film with a good heart that is the very reason so many turn to the genre in the first place. Take the characters, for instance: with an incredibly charming cast it is hard not to support even the more questionable characters when it comes to morals. Nina Dobrev brings a clear charisma and personality to her role, helping her not feel instantly forgettable or generic, while Jimmy O. Yang brings the empathy his character needs. Ultimately, Josh is a terrible person for catfishing Natalie, and while the film doesn't excuse that behavior completely, it does give him some justification to at least make his eventual turn to hero work well enough for the quality of the film around him. It also deserves to be said that Harry Shum Jr., who plays Josh's brother Owen, is an absolute riot and steals any scene he is in.
The story, while predictable, is also rather fun. The film doesn't necessarily feel lazy and though the story beats are rather generic, the substance at least feels fresh. When was the last time a holiday romance film on this level saw connections form over rock climbing and bobsledding, a vegetarian having to navigate dinner at her crush's steakhouse, or a guy having to hide his candle business from his family? It isn't anything shocking, but these moments are genuinely fun and do help the film stand out when compared to the largely oversaturated genre it belongs to.
The technical side of the film is also incredibly competent. The production design – specifically for Josh's family home, which is decked from head to toe in Christmas lights – feels memorable and the film overall achieves the small town holiday aesthetic that it is going for. It’s charming and authentic without ever going overboard. The camera work from Shane Hurlbut is also noticeably strong, which is quite refreshing. So many times, the holiday romance genre accepts its lesser quality and simply plays ignorant to the basics of filmmaking, leading to some really poorly shot and poorly made films. While Love Hard is nothing remarkable in the context of film, it is solid work that helps elevate the film overall to feel more respectable and crafted.
Love Hard might not be anything close to required viewing, but it still is quite a fun film to start the holiday season. The screenplay has some genuinely funny moments and the performances really do have some strong chemistry. For those looking for a new holiday film to start getting into the mood, Love Hard is an easy recommendation and hopefully is the start of a strong season of releases.
