“The Greatest Hits” is a romantic comedy that will appeal to those nostalgic for ’90s or early 2000s films. It features familiar characters like the widowed protagonist, the dreamy lost love, the sassy best friend, and others. While the performances are good, the characters feel like stereotypes and the relationships lack depth. Only one of the central love triangle’s relationships feels fully developed, largely due to the actor’s performance.
“The Greatest Hits” is a film with ambition and a notable pedigree, directed by Ned Benson, known for “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby.” The story follows Harriet, who experiences moments from her past relationship when triggered by songs. Benson cleverly keeps the audience guessing whether Harriet’s experiences are scientifically explainable or a result of her deep grief.
The problem arises when “The Greatest Hits” fully embraces its concept in a scientific procedural manner towards the end, just as the story is wrapping up. While the film’s visual elements hint at a potential sci-fi love story, they never fully commit to that direction.
The issue with “The Greatest Hits” is that it doesn’t fully embrace its potential as a sci-fi love story. Instead, it becomes repetitive without offering enough real-world depth to justify it. Harriet’s friend Morris points out that she’s trapped in a self-destructive grief cycle, but the film struggles to delve into the complexities of grief or use bold metaphors to convey its message effectively. It ends up feeling stuck, much like its protagonist, lacking the depth needed to truly resonate.
In “The Greatest Hits,” Lucy Boynton does a commendable job with her role, despite her character being mostly defined by loss and coping mechanisms. Her lost love remains largely abstract, with little insight into his character except that he was handsome, loved Harriet, and was a musician. While some hints suggest Harriet may have idealized him, the film doesn’t explore this deeply enough. Other supporting characters lack depth but are still likable due to strong performances.
Justin H. Min, known for his role in “After Yang,” injects energy into the movie with his sunny presence. He exudes a genuine goodness that makes you believe he truly cares about Harriet. His character feels like a modern version of the archetype played by John Cusack in “Say Anything,” embodying pure-heartedness in a way that’s captivating.
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Genre | Romantic comedy with ’90s or early 2000s nostalgia |
| Director | Ned Benson, known for “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby” |
| Plot | Harriet experiences moments from her past relationship triggered by songs, leaving the audience guessing if it’s scientifically explainable or due to grief |
| Visuals | Visually hints at a potential sci-fi love story, but doesn’t fully commit |
| Characterization | Characters feel like stereotypes, lacking depth in relationships |
| Performance | Lucy Boynton delivers a commendable performance, but character’s lost love remains abstract. Justin H. Min injects energy with a captivating portrayal |
| Themes | Struggles to delve into the complexities of grief, lacking depth to truly resonate |
