Isn't It Romantic
2019 · Directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson
Original language: English
- comedy
- fantasy
- romance
The story
For a long time, Natalie, an Australian architect living in New York City, had always believed that what she had seen in rom-coms is all fantasy. But after thwarting a mugger at a subway station only to be knocked out while fleeing, Natalie wakes up and discovers that her life has suddenly become her worst nightmare—a romantic comedy—and she is the leading lady.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated studio-comedy look: sunlit Manhattan streets, pastel brownstones, Central Park greenery, and the glossy, candy-coloured sets of a rom-com world that the camera revels in. Framing leans into classic genre tricks, with cheerful wide shots, tidy two-shots, and punchline cuts that wink at the audience. The score is bouncy and pop-driven, with big sing-along moments and a playful orchestral swell whenever the story snaps into its romantic clichés. Vibe: bubbly, self-aware, and warm, a sunny Saturday-afternoon watch or an easy comfort rewatch on the couch. Pacing is brisk and gag-heavy, the emotional register mostly light with a few sincere beats about self-worth and letting go of cynicism. The central arc follows a jaded, self-doubting woman learning to see her own value and to trust the people who love her. Intensity is low: a brief mugging and a few slapstick falls, some mild crude jokes and bleeped swearing, with no real gore and no graphic sex. It suits people who want a light, funny, knowing romcom that teases the genre it loves, and who don't mind a few bawdy punchlines along the way.
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