WHEN WE FIRST MET: Never Fully Enthralls

There has always been this level of uncertainty when it comes to comic star Adam Devine. Some of his previous roles include: the first two Pitch Perfect films, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, as well as shows such as Workaholics. He has a Jack Black sort of quality, which even from the star himself can be hit or miss. So far, I felt as if he hadn’t really hit his stride, and despite his ability to be funny, was generally over the top. In his newest, romantic comedy When We First Met, he manages to convince me of his potential – even if I’m not entirely sold on the movie.

Directed by Ari Sandel and written by John Whittington, this rom-com has comparable elements to About Time (yes, Hollywood is still doing time-travel), but lacks in its sincerity. There is charm to be found, but more often than not, it takes too long to arrive.

A Potentially Interesting Idea

At a Halloween party Jazz Pianist Noah (Adam Devine) and Avery (Alexandra Daddario) meet, sharing a night of drinks and laughs that ultimately ends up connecting them as friends. Fast-forward three years and Avery and perfect-guy Ethan (Robbie Amell) are getting married, and Noah is completely miserable. Our main character is grief-stricken over missing his opportunity for eternal romantic bliss, and in a sad-sack, drunken stupor discovers a time-machine in a sentimental photobooth.

Stay with me.

He goes back to the day of the party and attempts to win her over. His clumsy first attempts are more humor than heart, but with each effort the movie gets better. After he changes things he wakes back up, three years later, to find that everything is completely shifted. This butterfly effect is what makes this comedy more interesting, because it affects things in an unexpected way. Not only is he directly impacted, but several other characters are as well.

There are some deeper concepts at play here – can you really change fate? What if they aren’t meant to be? Is it worth losing the last three years as you know it? Noah also learns along the way that there may be more to what he truly wants.

What Went Wrong?

To figure this out he must try on a lot of hats. Noah goes through a whole playbook, including his friend Max’s (Andrew Bachelor) suggestion to be a jerk, which has him amusingly waking up to frosted tips and leather pants. Sometimes the route that seems ideal, like being responsible and successful, derails other areas of his life. Alongside Avery is her best friend and roommate Carrie (Shelley Hennig) who consistently bounces in and out of the story. As Noah continues to travel and reset his life, there are more opportunities for these supporting roles.

The story seems to take pieces from its inspirations such as: Big, Groundhog Day, hell- even Happy Death Day, and essentially When We First Met felt like watching a handful of meet-cutes.

The opening scene, their first introduction, is one of the least funny and most awkward sequences of the film. As I watched the movie I actually got nervous about its ability to sustain my attention for 96 minutes, but the characters fell into their roles, and the clouds parted enough for Devine to shine more. While I believe that the second half of the film is where it begins to flow, there isn’t quite enough for a glowing review. There may be aspects to enjoy, but just like the buzz Noah repeatedly catches, it eventually wears off.

Adam Devine takes the lead head on, and he’s surprisingly a good fit here. Daddario’s Avery doesn’t stand out in the film, despite being (at least at first) his dream girl. However, that might be the goal here. She slowly steps off her pedestal, which allows Noah to see things more clearly – maybe she isn’t as perfect for him as he once thought. Hennig is lovely and funny, a stand out in the film. Max (Andrew Bachelor) while pleasant enough, seems a bit underutilized.

Conclusion: When We First Met

None of the roles were entirely fresh or cool, even when they thought they were. Some of the jokes fall flat, some just gratuitous. The script by John Whittington doesn’t emphasize on the good enough to save the story from feeling limp. It isn’t something you haven’t seen, but it may entertain enough for a night in.

Occasionally, we’re presented with heartfelt moments that catch you off guard and When We First Met will incite the laughter you expect from a comedy. The romance of this romantic comedy is a gray area. Between Daddario and Devine (and maybe that’s the point) the chemistry only simmers. However, with Hennig a visible shift occurs which makes the former part of this genre at least partially attainable.

I appreciate the attempt, and there was even a section of the movie that was begging for redemption, but in the end it was too little too late. As far as Devine goes – I am more confident in his ability to lead a comedy now, but this wasn’t the best canvas. Hopefully he will eventually find the right one.

What did you think? Did it keep you laughing? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

When We First Met was released in the USA on February 9, 2018. For all international release, see here.