In 2018, Netflix broke new ground with "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch," allowing viewers to steer the narrative by making choices at key plot points. This interactive storytelling approach later went to different genres like comedy with “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend” and reality TV with “Ranveer vs. Wild with Bear Grylls.”
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Now, this fresh approach to viewing is part of Netflix's sentimental rom-com repertoire in "Choose Love." Directed by Stuart McDonald and written by Josann McGibbon, the story revolves around Cami, a career-focused woman facing a romantic crossroads. The audience gets to guide her choices among three potential partners, each representing a different chapter in her life. But the film's glaring flaw is that it barely gives Cami the chance to delve into self-discovery outside her relationships.
Living in Los Angeles, Cami feels unfulfilled. Although surrounded by family and in a stable job as a recording engineer, she's yearning for more - both in her professional and personal life. Her current boyfriend Paul seems to be gearing up to propose, adding to her uncertainty. To navigate her confusion, she consults a psychic, who foresees two more men entering her life: her high-school sweetheart Jack and a rock star named Rex who could help her career soar.
The film employs a straightforward user interface, with Cami frequently addressing the audience to clue them in on upcoming decisions. While the options are initially quite similar, they later branch out into significantly different story paths. This places an almost stressful amount of control in the viewer’s hands, mirroring Cami's own indecisiveness.
Regrettably, the film falls flat in depth and complexity. It asks the viewer to become a puppeteer but fails to invest us in Cami's world. The male characters are one-dimensional, serving merely as stepping stones in her life journey. Although the actors share good on-screen chemistry, they can't save the underwhelming script. Even a catchy tune by Rex is turned into a lackluster song, leaving us questioning Cami's professional capabilities.
Surprisingly, Cami herself gets short-changed in the narrative. The film tells us about her dreams and desires rather than showing them through meaningful events or dialogues. Oddly, the story becomes more engaging when Cami makes deceitful decisions, such as lying or cheating. The absence of deeper, emotionally impactful choices also leaves us and the characters unsatisfied.
Ultimately, "Choose Love" captures the uncertainty of real-life romantic decisions without any guaranteed happy endings. Although it allows viewers to backtrack and try other routes, what it delivers are a series of lackluster outcomes. It encourages us to "choose love," but its shortcomings make it a choice many might prefer to skip.
