One Day (2011)

Running Time: 108 mins
Directed By: Lone Scherfig
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, Romola Garai, Patricia Clarkson, Jodie Whittaker, Rafe Spall
Screenplay: David Nicholls
UK Release Date: UK - 24th August

Quick Plot: On July 15th 1988, Emma and Dexter spend their graduation night together promising to remain good friends. Over the next 20 years the films revisits the pair for one day a year- the anniversary of the day they met. The film see's what their lives pan out to be with laughs, losses and a lot of love. -Cheesy synopsis there.

Review: Romantic Comedies aren't exactly rare, but every now and then one comes along that outshines the rest of them. I wouldn't go as far as saying One Day is iconic or rememberable, but it certainly sparkles.

About a year ago, one of my cousins told me about the book he was reading and how it was 'the best book he's ever read' and how I would 'love it' and yes you guessed it, this book was One Day. I found out it was even more successful as I first thought when it was announced it was to be adapted into a film, later being announced to star Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. Of course I gave it a go and it's got to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. I could go on about how good of a book it is and how much it will change your life but this is a review of the film, sadly.
One Day is a film about every type of love. The love you have with your family, the love you share with your friends and that one true love those lucky enough experience in their lives. The good thing about this adaption is that the author also wrote the screenplay (David Nicholls also wrote the screenplay for another of his book adaptations Starter For 10), so he knew the key moments that needed to be included and how to keep the beautiful moral, if you will, that the book held. As most instances, it’s not as good as the book, but for a film, it works well as a good adaption. The standout moments are still there as are the witty ethics that the leads have. I wouldn’t really define One Day as a Rom Com, it has it’s funny parts but it’s certainly not a predictable lovey dovey tale. It’s all down to the way Dexter and Emma have been written, they have a bond that is a lot deeper than meets the eye. They constantly bicker with snide remarks to each other, are playfully sarcastic but at the end of the day really care about one another. The other characters are written well for the adaption too, being the secondary characters that really have no likeability neither do they hold any type of dislikablity as they are literally part of the narrative, whereas in the book you have a bigger insight. One Day is directed by Lone Scherfig, who has a knack for capturing the beauty of a friendship and finding your self (similarly with the 2009 film An Education) so it's no surprise the film is utilised in sweetness.
Having read the book I hope I am fully entitled to say that I believe Jim Sturgess is in every way possible, the greatest actor to be Dexter. I think he gave the character everything he got and made him the selfish, arrogant yet totally lovable Dexter Mayhew I fell in love with in the books. Sturgess, I already knew was a tremendous actor, but his portrayal of Dexter has me convinced he's got a lot more to show us in the future. I can't give him the credit of making him able to play a character over 20 years appearance wise, but I can say he shows the way his character develops extremely well. Now to Anne Hathaway, who's accent in the film has caused quite a stir. As a a reader of the book, I admit that Hathaway wouldn't have been my first choice to be Emma Morley but I can see why she was cast. Anne Hathaway is an actress who has come a long way in her career and we know she can play roles well. Her accent isn't exactly the best but if you push that aside she plays a good Emma. She's quirky, serious and real. Real enough anyway to be our lead Emma. The chemistry between the pair is apparent on screen and for that I really am thankful that Sturgess and Hathaway have put their all into the film knowing the books has lots of fans.

Now the film does have it's flaws. Hopefully it's not the book in the back of my mind, but I feel as if some days were a lot shorter than they should have been and sometimes the characters didn't get enough screen time to show their full emotions. As much as it's tried very hard to flow well, One Day has it's odd moments when you feel unsatisfied with a scene or not fully understanding what has happened in a certain year but it's definitely done the best it could have achieved in your average film duration. As for the ending of the film, it had nearly the same effect on me as the book. The film is lovable which I think is mostly to do with the leading roles but luckily enough everything else about it is quite simply lovely.

If you don't compare it to the book, forget Hathaway's accent and be patient with it, One Day is a gem which will make you laugh, cry and most of all love.
3/5

In my opinion, the best trailer for One Day..