Home / Arts and Entertainment / 'The Love Hypothesis' Film: A Rom-Com That's Far From Romantic
'The Love Hypothesis' Film: A Rom-Com That's Far From Romantic
23 Sep
Summary
- A graduate student initiates a fake relationship to prove a point.
- The film struggles with tone and character development.
- Dialogue is described as painfully unsexy and unhuman.

The film "The Love Hypothesis," directed by Claire Scanlon, centers on biologist Olive Smith who enters into a fake relationship. This scenario, intended to prove a point to her friend Anh, features a protagonist who kisses Dr. Adam Carlsen, a professor known for his harsh teaching style. The movie, based on Ali Hazelwood's novel, quickly sidelines the friendship between Olive and Anh, mirroring its general lack of commitment to various plot elements and a consistent tone.
While gestures toward female empowerment are present, the narrative implies Olive requires male assistance to achieve her goals. The script's dialogue is particularly criticized for feeling unhuman and "painfully unsexy." For instance, lines such as "You're edible" and responses like "Contain the variables this time" when discussing love highlight the film's perceived shortcomings.
The movie is rated R for language, brief nudity, and uninspired dialogue, running 1 hour and 50 minutes. It is available for streaming on Prime Video. The film's execution ultimately fails to feel genuine, making its romantic premise fall flat.