The Love Hypothesis is a different type of romantic drama. It was directed by Claire Scanlon, who initially brings a few familiar rom-com vibes to the table, only to eventually take the film in a completely different direction than one may expect.
This is, for the most part, an earnest movie about sincere people, which is refreshing. There are often professional consequences to the choices the characters make, which ups the stakes and makes it that much more interesting to watch.
Lili Reinhart plays Olive Smith, a graduate student at a prestigious university, who takes cancer research very seriously. She forms a bond with a young woman named Anh Pham (Rachel Marsh). They both seem to like the same guy, Jeremy (Nicholas Duvernay), which sets the unpredictable plot into motion.
A professor, Dr. Adam Carlsen – played by Tom Bateman – receives an unsolicited kiss from Olive when she tries to pretend she’s with someone so that Anh can comfortably pursue Jeremy. Adam seems to want to report Olive for her actions until he learns a bit more about her and her aspirations.
This film’s plot kicks in when they agree to forge a phony relationship to help Anh out. If Anh thinks that Adam and Olive are a couple, maybe there’ll be more flexibility for Anh to fall in love with Jeremy.
There are some other supporting characters mixed in as well. Arty Froushan plays Tom, Adam’s colleague, who may disrespect Olive’s ambitions as the plot goes on, and Jaboukie Young-White assumes the role of Malcolm, a student of Adam’s facing some tough decisions regarding the future of his studies.
This movie is very interesting in the way it analyzes the characters’ behaviors. It shows how academics really examine their own behaviors under a microscope, so to speak, and the characters seem to make the same mistakes everyday people do in an interesting turn of events.
Lili Reinhart is, not surprisingly, the heart of The Love Hypothesis. Olive is relatable and likable. She is portrayed with the type of earnestness that makes her feel like she’s totally sincere in her aspirations.
Tom Bateman is the big surprise of this movie. This character he plays here is full of doubts about love, and he doesn’t let his heart guide him until he does actually feel that there could be more between him and Olive than he originally thought was possible in terms of genuine feelings.
The Love Hypothesis could have been an everyday rom-com, but ends up becoming much more, thanks to the dedication of Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman. Both stars excel in their roles and add a significant amount of layers to their well-written characters.
There are sequences that come out of left field that intensify the storyline. One such scene has Froushan’s character offering an opportunity for Olive that may come with very odd strings. While it does advance the plot, it’s not entirely necessary, although it does show how women are unfairly harassed in the professional world.
In fact, Anh gets the best line in the movie when she is walking through a group of men and she announces that women are coming through and she states, “You can steal our ideas later…”
Filmmaker Claire Scanlon is to be credited for bringing a refreshing love story to the screen in which the characters are smart and have more goals than simply falling in love. Falling in love is a nice way to complement the professional goals of the characters rather than serving as a way to define them.
The Love Hypothesis rests on its love story, which is charming, if not always one hundred percent pure. When it does feature a romantic sex scene, it feels like it arrives too soon in the action, especially considering the agreement made between the lead characters.
Still, this love story is a lot of fun to watch because it shows the complexity of romance in a way few films do. The Love Hypothesis is a sweet cinematic romance that will appeal to men and women equally. Therefore, it is a movie rarity that is well worth seeking out.
The Love Hypothesis is now streaming, only on Amazon Prime.
Follow us on X and on Instagram!
Like us on Facebook!
Thomas Duffy
Thomas Duffy is a Critics Choice member who has written film reviews for most of his life, starting at age 11 when he crafted his first full length movie critique on the film, "Roxanne," a Cyrano story featuring Steve Martin. As a result of that review and other movie obsessive writing, Thomas was awarded a creative writing award in sixth grade. Thomas is the proud author of nine books, including two highly acclaimed novels, "To Never Know" and "Social Work." Thomas can be found on X (formerly known as Twitter) or at a New York City movie theater watching the latest hit or independent movie. You can also run into him at Tribeca or at the New York Film Festival.