Rosaline – Review
96 Minutes, PG-13
Written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
Directed by Karen Maine
**NOTE: this post will be updated with audio once we actually have the chance to talk about it. Until then, you can read Mark’s review below. Stay tuned.**
Synopsis:
A comedic retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” told from the point of view of Romeo’s jilted ex, Rosaline, the woman Romeo first claims to love before he falls for Juliet.
Oh, my sweet Aunt Fanny. This is the Romeo and Juliet spin-off I never knew I needed.
Kaitlyn Dever, who absolutely slayed in Booksmart, brings her Cracker-Jack comedic timing and snarky delivery to the screen as Romeo’s titular ex-girlfriend, Rosaline.
Relying on some great romantic-comedy and breakup movie tropes, Rosaline never misses a beat, with a cast that seems to just “get it” from the start and never look back.
Minnie Driver is a welcome sight as the nurse (a REGISTERED Nurse, as she must continually remind everyone) who is Rosaline’s friend, caretaker, and confidant. Like your favorite aunt might be. Bradley Whitford is a solid father figure who is both frustrated and proud of his daughter’s independent streak.
Romeo is… everything you might expect Romeo to be, lol, in more ways than one, and Kyle Allen feels a bit Heath Ledger-ish here (think Ten Things I Hate About You).
But it’s not all snark and sass and fun; there’s some great moments of emotional clarity brought to the table, as well. Everything I should have gotten–wanted to get–from Joey King’s The Princess (but didn’t) I got here, as Rosaline is more evocative of Drew Barrymore’s Ever After than that one.
A far, far better re-purposing of Shakespeare’s classic romance than Spielberg’s recent adaptation of West Side Story, Rosaline is a good time for everyone.
Check it out.
Rosaline hits Hulu exclusively on Friday, October 14, and stars Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Sean Teale, Kyle Allen, Spencer Stevenson, Bradley Whitford, and Minnie Driver.
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