"Sweethearts", a romantic comedy movie, directed by Jordan Weiss, attempts to examine the complex dynamics of platonic friendships with a contemporary college-going population, taking the age-old question of whether adult men and women can maintain a non-romantic friendship. Centered on the lives of best friends, Ben (Nico Hiraga) and Jamie (Kiernan Shipka), the film navigates through their plans to break up with their significant others and the ensuing complications and surprises that follow.
The duo's life revolves around the challenges posed by their roommates, romantic tensions, and their struggle to fit in. Together, they hatch a plan to break up with their partners when they head home for Thanksgiving. However, things don't go according to plan, leading to a series of comic, outlandish incidents from a bus ride with an intrusive stranger to reuniting with a keen old crush to their partners disappearing on them.
The narrative has elements from the quintessential “one crazy night” teen comedy with slight twists that offer a fresh take on an otherwise stereotypically humorous plot. Despite efforts to infuse comic elements, the film doesn't provide memorable laugh-out-loud moments. In terms of character arcs, Palmer’s (Caleb Hearon) story doesn't line up with the main duo's, leaving a disjointed narrative that underutilizes the actor.
The spark in the film is the inherent chemistry between Ben and Jamie reflected in their candid talks about love, sex, hopes, and fears, with Shipka and Hiraga offering an intriguing verbal back-and-forth that strikes a chord. DeMary and Hall deliver depth to their characters. Yet, with such a talented ensemble, “Sweethearts” falls short, underlining the potential for a better narrative that never quite unfolds on screen.
