5 movies to watch this February 2024

Ah, February, the month of love. Here are 5 movies I’ve watched that are under the genre of love, in any form in may come.

Synopsis: A creative writing assignment yields complex results between a teacher and his talented student.

Review: While the plot remains predictable, I was entertained by the movie. The cinematography and aesthetic of the movie were pleasing. It played well with the vibe of the film. I admired the dialogue. I loved the choice of words. It felt academic which, if I’m being honest, made me pull out my dictionary a lot. Fret not, I enjoyed learning new words. Even when there was an argument, their choice of words was like poetry- soft to the ear but hard on the heart. My favorite thing about the movie was my need to constantly pause the movie as the inappropriateness of what was happening between them was getting too much for me to handle. The actors embodied the plot. It was uncomfortable to watch and that’s the whole point. However, there was no remarkable acting from the actors as we’ve seen them act in similar roles, especially with Jenna Ortega. It was as if she was still in her role as Wednesday. I saw a review that noted, the actors had no chemistry between them. I would argue that there should not be any chemistry between them because what chemistry would a teacher and a student have?

Synopsis: An aspiring art intern is invited on a last-minute work trip to London, where she meets a handsome stranger.

Review: If I could describe the whole movie in one word it would be: refreshing. I appreciated how the movie was a light-hearted drama. The chemistry between the actors was phenomenal. In every scene they were together, I found myself smiling as the romance between them was cute and flirty, especially the playful banter. Seeing the actors outside of the show they were known for, was refreshing. Although Camilla Mendes did not feel like an art intern, it did not ruin the experience. While it might seem peculiar, I enjoyed how their romance was conservative. It did not feel sexualized but rather it reminded me of traditional relationships. I love how the movie focused more on the advances of her career and the love story felt like an underlying plot. There’s nothing I appreciate more than a girl boss trying to have it all. I like the resolution as it seems realistic and a smart move. But as I’ve mentioned, the drama is light-hearted so the consequences of her actions were minimal.

Synopsis: A misunderstood teenager and a reanimated Victorian corpse embark on a murderous journey together to find love, happiness, and a few missing body parts.

Review: Lisa Frankenstein feels like the modern, though not so modern, retelling of Frankenstein’s Bride. This movie was eccentric but amusing. The movie had a unique twist on Frankenstein’s story, all the while keeping a part of who Frankenstein was. It brought me back to my high school days if I was allowed to act upon every tantrum I got. Kathryn Newton’s acting as Lisa was marvelous. As her character undergoes changes, you can see the difference between who she was, from the start, to who she is nearing the end. There were times when she had me angry and frustrated at her character. For a non-verbal role, Cole Sprouse does a good job of being Frankenstein. He grunts and uses facial expressions that add to the comedy of the movie. We do not forget he is there, despite his silence. A favorite scene of mine would be a scene towards the end, without spoiling anything, Lisa has one last wish before her actions catch up to her, while it may not have been what Lisa had in mind, her wish was fulfilled by Frankenstein.

Synopsis: Despite having an amazing first date, Bea and Ben’s initial attraction quickly turns sour. When they unexpectedly find themselves at a destination wedding in Australia, the pair pretend to be the perfect couple to keep up appearances.

Review: I watched this movie with high expectations as everyone seemed to enjoy this movie, needless to say, I was disappointed. The trope of this movie is enemies to lovers, but I do not find the reason sufficient enough for them to become enemies to begin with. It felt shallow and forced as they only knew each other for a day. It seemed unrealistic. The characters reminded me of children, who cannot behave themselves even for a weekend. And to be honest, their reason for hating each other could simply be fixed if they communicated as adults would. I also had high expectations with the main actor and actress as I’ve seen their previous work and I cannot help but compare them. I’ve seen Sydney Sweeney in Euphoria and she was amazing in it, however, this movie is a different genre for her. It may be the reason why I didn’t like her acting here. It felt as if she could only do a casual expression and the rest she had difficulty doing, which resulted in her acting a bit extra sometimes. I’ve noticed. This isn’t Glen Powell’s first romcom, I’ve seen Set It Up and I love it. And as such, I expected the same from this movie. However, he felt stiff in this movie. As if he was uncomfortable, despite so many scenes crossing boundaries, he came off tense. I couldn’t sense any chemistry between them. Whether it was hate or love. It ruined the experience for me. But I did enjoy some of the scenes that were somewhat cheesy.

Synopsis: New York sportswriter Mack devises successful hookup techniques with friend Adam and their crew, but when she unexpectedly falls head over heels for one of her targets, they all must learn what it takes to go from simply scoring to playing for keeps.

Review: This was an unremarkable movie. The plot has been done time and time again, and it remains predictable. There was no twist whatsoever. While I love some of the actors and actresses in it, I am disappointed that this movie is a part of their work. Not to say that their acting was bad, but the movie itself is bad. It had such a flat storyline, that there was nothing else to look forward to. The movie ended in haste after a solution had been provided. I was not able to emotionally connect with the characters or the plot. Frankly, I wanted to stop watching but I pushed through. The only thing I appreciated in the movie was their friendship- how they went above and beyond for each other.