Finding Emily review: A rom-com that loses its way
A student named Owen becomes obsessed with locating a woman he met briefly, but his search leads him to another Emily, played by Angourie Rice. The film attempts to blend romance and psychological study but feels confused and regressive. It never fully develops its characters or themes.
The film opens with a Freud quote and New Order’s “Blue Monday,” signaling a mix of psychology and music that never matures. Owen’s search begins after a fairy-costumed woman gives him an incomplete number; he then contacts multiple Emilys, including Rice’s character, who sees him as a thesis subject. Her plan involves unethical pushes toward public stunts, while another Emily organizes a campus protest against his mass email. The story also introduces Tristan, Emily’s indifferent boyfriend, contrasting with Owen’s grand romantic efforts.
Director Alicia MacDonald’s debut relies on a premise of mistaken identity and missed connections, but the screenplay by Rachel Hirons struggles to balance comedy with darker themes. The film’s treatment of feminist backlash, embodied by a punk-styled protester, suggests an attempt at social commentary that instead feels regressive. Characters remain underdeveloped, and the central romance never earns its emotional beats, leaving the narrative adrift between genres.
This film may resonate with young audiences familiar with modern dating’s ambiguities, but its muddled tone could reinforce stereotypes about romantic pursuit and dismiss legitimate concerns about digital privacy. By framing a campus protest as overreaction, it risks trivializing real conversations about consent and harassment. However, its limited character depth may limit cultural impact, leaving it as a minor entry in the rom-com genre rather than a meaningful conversation starter.