Written by: Sophie Brooks
Starring: Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan, John Reynolds
Rating: [3/5]
The contemporary dating world is full of nothing but landmines, where you have individuals posing to want a serious relationship but in the end only express this to enjoy the short-term pleasures these long-term promises provide to them. Many have experienced this betrayal and/or misunderstanding, but Oh, Hi! takes it to a completely different level in the way this misunderstanding turns into something dangerous and criminal in probably the most unassuming way one would think.
Iris (Molly Gordon) and Isaac (Logan Lerman) decide to go on a weekend getaway experience as they enjoy their relationship. Everything in the romance department fires on all cylinders until an innocuous conversation reveals Isaac does not think of them being in a relationship. An assertion Iris vehemently disagrees with. Now stuck in a compromising position, Iris feels she must present the case of why they would work out as a couple.
Using the word compromised in the previous paragraph does not quite sum up the predicament at hand in Oh, Hi! where we have one of the characters literally cuffed to a bed. Cuffed not in the way of maliciously confining someone, seeing as Isaac willingly cuffed himself for sexual activity, but Iris refuses to uncuff him because he admits to her that he does not see them as a couple. She takes this very hard given she completely saw things differently than him and wants to take the opportunity to convince him otherwise while he cannot leave. A premise like this could very easily be tilted into a horror movie but this upbeat romantic comedy vibe presents something else entirely. While Iris does not have the malicious intent of Annie Wilkes in Misery, she certainly does have a conviction in convincing Isaac of how they would make a great couple and he should reconsider. Admittedly, the gender dynamics in this type of story matter greatly as this cutesy tone the film carries can really only happen this way. No way to shake that if Isaac refused to uncuff Iris, there’s no other way this film would work the same way.
With all that said, while Isaac finds himself in this compromised position, Iris needs to navigate this situation very carefully. While she’s a bit delusional in ever thinking Isaac would agree to formulate a firm romantic relationship after this, the longer she keeps him restrained, the more this turns criminal. It leaves the film in a difficult position of how to adequately conclude this story and who will see the end with a smile on their face. One would think there’s no possible way all parties involved have a happy ending, but this film makes a choice, and that will ultimately determine how one feels about the film overall. In my opinion, this ending is quite unsatisfactory. With stakes at the level that get raised with throughout the narrative, the way it concludes leaves much to be desired, which I obviously will not spoil in this review. Ultimately, it’s what keeps this film from having a higher rating, as I can see writer/director Sophie Brooks tried to have her cake and it eat it too in this instance.
Even with that criticism, there’s plenty to appreciate in this film, especially before the inciting incident occurs. The chemistry between Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman is genuinely electric, which makes it just as shocking to the audience that Isaac does not see himself in a relationship with Iris. They genuinely look like such a great couple, and those early moments in the film demonstrate just that. Also, although this situation becomes quite uncomfortable the awkward comedy on display for the majority of the runtime really works. Molly Gordon shines in those moments as she tries desperately in strange ways to prove to Isaac why they would make such a good couple only if Isaac would commit to her. The film well and truly shines in those moments as it delivers on the promise of its premise.
Containing many entertaining elements and a lovely duo at the center, Oh, Hi! delivers so many fun moments but brings it all together in such a haphazard conclusion that it somewhat deflates the film overall. Sophie Brooks still impresses with the comedy she imbues throughout the narrative. In combination with Molly Gordon, they create a narrative that dives into some interesting commentary about relationships and dating in the current age that warrant praise.
Films with Josh 
