The Other Zoey review: A tedious rom-com that revels in its ironies to a fault

The Prime Video original film leans on irrational plot devices, familiar tropes, a dull setting

Story: Bright and aspiring tech genius Zoey Miller is on the verge of creating a revolutionary dating app. She claims that the new app will rely on a complex algorithm to match couples with perfect compatibility. Her cynicism towards the modern ideas of love is put to the test when she is caught in a love triangle. One of her potential love interests is a young man with amnesia who mistakes her for his real girlfriend Zoey Wallace and another who fits into all the parameters of her algorithm.

Review: The era of the classic rom-coms with stellar names attached to them is almost at an end. While these popcorn films may not necessarily have been the most thought-provoking stories, they served their purpose as wholesome entertainers. Director Sara Zandieh’s The Other Zoey attempts to capture the essence of some of the classic rom-coms from the ‘90s and 2000s, with a modern twist. The film does offer an ample dose of nostalgia, but it is unable to stop itself from falling into a pit of half-baked plot devices.

A film’s ability to keep its audience invested in its story rests entirely on its first act. The Other Zoey finds itself in a situation where the narrative sets everything in motion with what could only be described as one of the most ridiculous premises. Zoey’s chance encounters with both her love interests and the reason why she ends up on a skiing holiday with both of them require a substantial amount of suspension of disbelief. It unfortunately positions the film in a situation where the story becomes unintentionally funny. In contrast, the actual comedy falls flat.

The most frustrating aspect of the film is that it presents a barrage of reasons as to why conventional ideas of romance are flawed, only for it to eventually become what it criticises. While this is by design and can be construed as a form of self-deprecation, it lacks the nuance or subtlety to make it convincing. This is disappointing considering it was an aspect that the film could have explored further, albeit with better writing. The film eventually reaches a point where the story becomes a little too predictable, even for rom-com standards.

The one aspect of the film which does offer moments of brilliance is when Zoey returns from the ski trip. Her interactions with her best friend Elle are surprisingly grounded and well-written. It’s a shame that the film's best moments briefly show up at the opening of the third act and completely disappear again soon after. The film then quickly settles into a pattern where the story becomes frustratingly plain and obvious. Lead star Josephine Langford does a commendable job at portraying the inexplicable dilemma her character Zoey has to endure.

Verdict: The Other Zoey is an amalgamation of a formulaic rom-com and a contemporary drama. Unfortunately, it excels at neither and renders the film a tedious watch.

Share