Oh, Hi! would make a surefire date flick for seasoned couples who have since shed their desperation for romance. Having that self-assurance would make Sophie Brooks’ off-kilter rom-com much more satisfying. If you’re a couple that is more green, hey, there’s nothing wrong with a film provoking some interesting post-screening chats about comfort and communication over some coffee and pie.

Issac (Logan Lerman of The Perks of Being a Wallflower) and Iris (Theater Camp’s Molly Gordon, who also co-wrote the script with Brooks) escape to a cabin for their first getaway with each other where they soak in the country scenery and, immediately after they arrive, each other’s bodies. To the audience, we’re seeing two people who have found an irresistible connection with each other – they define compatibility. Iris also feels this but, shortly after some tongue-in-cheek bondage, Issac admits that he doesn’t want a serious relationship. Confusion and anger from both of them fill the air and squeeze out any semblance of romance. Iris doesn’t want to make any premature decisions about the corner her and Issac have turned, but would rather try and convince her beau of their optimistic future. However, Isaac is still handcuffed to the bed and he’s becoming more worried about when Iris will uncuff him.

Brooks’ clever sophomore feature walks a fine line and impressively resists taking a side. Both Iris and Isaac are blinded by their own motivations, and their choices only double down on the lack of communication that they have to inevitably address. But before they do, Oh, Hi! stews in its silliness to generate laughs and build its own strange tension. Another couple is brought into the fold (played by Blockers‘ Geraldine Viswanathan and John Reynolds of Save Yourselves!), as Iris conveys another variation of her own desperation to her friends; only this version is thinking of ways to avoid criminal accusations. The stalling goes too far when DIY witchcraft is introduced, but these scenes also lead to a sweet backstory and some more funny visual gags.

Viswanathan and Reynolds are scene-stealers, with the latter being a stronger breakout as he hilariously delivers each of his lines, but Oh, Hi! still belongs to Gordon and Lerman. They have great chemistry, which allows them to truly make that leap from canoodling to voicing concerns with each other’s behaviour. The range and realism of these conversations compliment the versatility of Oh, Hi!, a maturely made movie that makes us feel and laugh.

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie