FALLING

Falling becomes emotionally engaging thanks to the strong performances of and undeniable chemistry between Archie Renaux, KJ Apa and Isabel May who elevate an otherwise surface level romance into a cozy afternoon romantic escape.

In a world of modern dating, those chance meetings of love at first sight are increasingly rarer with many people finding connection on dating apps. But, there are still the hopeless romantics who believe that you will find the person for you when you’re meant to, and that is the love explored at the centre of Falling, the latest film from writers and directors Colin and James Krisel. Following the lives of three young individuals living in London with the two men both falling deeply in love with the same woman, the Krisels navigate the complex love triangle with an eye towards the emotional complexities and betrayals running through the characters’ minds with an ease, only bolstered by the great performances of Archie Renaux, KJ Apa and Isabel May in the lead roles, but their screenplay never digs deep enough into the motivations of the characters or the fallout to give the story the gravitas to create a romance that will truly break audiences’ hearts.

Without question, the film’s most valuable assets are Renaux, Apa and May, who are all excellent from start to finish. There is no denying the leading man energy Apa brings to Jack with a smooth confidence that makes it easy to fall in love with him as a romantic lead, and while you don’t believe for a second that he is a lawyer, he finds a vulnerability to Jack that makes him more than just a player as he falls for Jillian. Renaux continues to impress as an actor as Johnny, easily capturing the hopeless romantic and struggling artist with a natural charm and compassion while building the internal struggle between love and friendship within Johnny with an aching vulnerability that fuels the drama at the centre of the screenplay. May is radiant as Jillian, creating a spirited presence and delivering enticing charm that makes Jillian a delightful character, while finding an emotional intelligence as she finds herself romantically caught between two men who are each great guys but with their unresolved personal problems that she cannot fix for them.

The romantic connection with May and her two male co-stars is undeniable. From the second she meets Apa’s Jack and locks eyes with Renaux’s Johnny over drinks, audiences immediately know that Jillian is in trouble as you can feel the sparks between the actors. It’s an easy and intoxicating romantic chemistry while the romantic depth between May and each of the men deepens over the course of the film, finding an honesty that goes beyond a breezy romance and a true connection to fuel the drama between the characters as the film enters its third act. Even the bromantic energy between Renaux and Apa is fantastic, easily building a life long friendship between their characters within minutes of the film starting, helping to raise the stakes of the love triangle. It’s evident that amongst the film’s leading stars that there is an immense amount of trust between them and a real life connection that will survive the filming of Falling, and it is because of that that their performances and the chemistry amongst them on screen finds a deeper level of intimacy and believability with viewers.

Even with the excellent performances of Renaux, Apa and May elevating the film, the Krisels’ screenplay never digs deep enough into the drama of the love triangle that plays out between Johnny, Jack and Jillian. Over the film’s first two acts, their writing develops the characters, their own personal struggles and the bonds between the three of them, while the writing builds the romantic stakes of the story, though none of it is given an immense depth to truly get to know these characters and their every motivation. Exploring the concept of the elusive “the one” in modern dating scene and complications that arise with conflicts caused by love, friendship and finding one’s place in the world, the Krisels explore both the characters and the romance that unfolds between them with a warmth and compassion that allows the audience to be intrigued by the story even if they are not whole heartedly invested in it.

There is an ample amount of time spent in the romantic honeymoon phase of the relationships while never spending the time to truly appreciate the mess that these are characters are creating for themselves, but when it all comes to a head as the film enters the third act, the writing never truly explores the fallout of the actions that led Johnny, Jack and Jillian to this point. While they don’t need to provide answers as to where these characters end up by the story’s conclusion, as part of the beauty of the film is that the Krisels leave the characters as honest human beings still trying to find themselves in this crazy thing we call life, but the fallout of the love triangle needed to be more fleshed out. With an abrupt two year time jump and a few scenes to set up the film’s final scene, the audience is left with more questions than answers, leaving them without the closure they need to feel satisfied by the mess and emotional devastation that the characters have created for themselves. It’s not a bad screenplay by any means, as viewers will get the romance and drama that they desire and it makes for an enjoyable romantic drama that is best enjoyed with a warm cup of tea on a fall afternoon, but it never leaves a lasting mark on the audience as a great romance should.

While it never truly challenges the audience with its exploration of love and friendship, instead glossing over the more complex elements of the characters and their motivations in favour of breezy romantic drama, Falling is enjoyable even if it is not emotionally rewarding. With the surefire performances of and effective romantic chemistry between Archie Renaux, KJ Apa and Isabel May, Falling finds a comforting entertainment in its romantic love triangle and the relationships between the characters even if writers and directors Colin and James Krisel never fully explore the characters to their full potential.