When you first head into see Oh, Hi! you may think the movie is just a quirky love story and a miscommunication between a budding romance. That’s basically what the logline sets it up as. But the movie, while it does have moments that will make you laugh, ends up fumbling the story and seems to lose its own point part way through the movie.
Off on their first romantic get away as a couple, Iris and Isaac rent a house secluded in the countryside. And while everything starts out great, the two quickly find themselves at odds when Isaac reveals he has no intention of being exclusive in their relationship. Before this, the movie hints at an incident in Iris’ past that seemed a little crazy, but with Isaac chained to the bed, she now sets a goal of convincing him to stay only with her in twelve hours. While this plan is unhinged, Isaac goes along with it just until he can find his escape. Unfortunately for him, he reveals his plans of turning in Iris before he’s fully free and he remains her prisoner for much longer than intended.
Oh, Hi! Seems like it wants to be a washed out funnier version of Misery, but seems to miss the mark repeatedly. Yes, there are laughs, and yes it’s filled with young attractive actors. But there are so many moments the movie could have taken more chances. Iris could have actually been a bit more unhinged. Isaac could have actually played the long game and did what he had to get out earlier, but obviously has no survival instincts. Probably the most egregious part of the movie, a young woman tying her whole identity on a guy she’d only been dating a few weeks. While movies and pop culture often make this out to be the plot of the movie, the younger generations are actually very vocally doing the opposite of this overall.
Sure, Oh, Hi! isn’t a hard movie to watch but it just seems like it left a lot to be desired. A beautiful location and beautiful actors aren’t the only thing a movie can bank on for its success. Although, the topic and movie type already goes against the norm for Sony Picture Classics, so maybe that’s a good start on its own.
Oh, Hi! Is currently playing in theaters.
Overall Rating
About Oh, Hi!
Iris has met her perfect guy, Isaac, and is enjoying their first romantic getaway together – what could go wrong? This clever and charmingly odd dark comedy takes on the highs and lows of modern dating and the ways it makes us all a little crazy.
Starring Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan, John Reynolds
Written and directed by Sophie Brooks
(Sony Pictures Classics)
Rated R