CNN
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Tapping into the dual markets of A) lovers of rom-coms and B) recovering English majors, “Rosaline” promotes a fleetingly talked about “Romeo and Juliet” character entrance and heart, then builds a really intelligent and breezy film round her. The result’s a welcome starring showcase for Kaitlyn Dever extra prone to prosper within the hamlet of Hulu than it could have fared within the province of theaters.
For these slightly rusty on their Shakespeare, Romeo had really been pining for Juliet’s cousin earlier than they met and set in movement that entire star-crossed lovers factor. Right here, we discover the disarmingly trendy Rosaline (Dever) sneaking round with Romeo (Kyle Allen), whereas her annoyed father (Bradley Whitford) is making an attempt to rearrange a wedding for her, which she steadfastly resists in a way that resembles one other new interval streaming movie, Amazon’s “Catherine Known as Birdy.”
After blind dates with a sequence of previous males and losers, Rosaline will get launched to a dashing determine in Dario (Sean Teale), however in basic rom-com trend she immediately dislikes him, principally as a result of he’s not the man she ostensibly needs.
When their get-together prevents her from attending a celebration, the feckless Romeo falls for the visiting Juliet (Isabela Merced). Wounded, Rosaline begins scheming about how she may win him again whereas pretending to be useful to her wide-eyed and smitten cousin, encouraging her to “play the sphere” and “pattern on the buffet of life.”
Directed by Karen Maine, the screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (“500 Days of Summer time”) took Rebecca Serle’s 2013 novel, which contemporized Rosaline’s story, and put it again in Shakespearean instances. Past the shift to Rosaline’s perspective that may clarify why the film feels so modern, making shrewd use of numerous standard songs to set the temper and set up the cheeky tone, whether or not that’s “This Will Be (An Eternal Love)” or “I Love It.”
Enjoying round with Shakespeare basically, and “Romeo and Juliet” specifically, is a well-worn tactic by now, together with the short-lived ABC sequence “Nonetheless Star-Crossed.” Nonetheless, the true basis lies in casting Dever (who has been good in a complete lot of issues, together with “Booksmart,” “Dopesick” and “Unbelievable”) as a completely trendy protagonist, and Teale’s Dario because the form of fellow who may immediate her to rethink this entire Romeo infatuation.
There are different nifty touches labored into the movie (an homage to “The Graduate,” for instance), in addition to sensible casting that enables Minnie Driver to position an irreverent stamp on the normally thankless function of the Nurse (now a registered nurse). Plus, the pacing strikes briskly in a method that fortunately doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Hulu has turn into what seems like a haven for midscale films that guardian Disney doesn’t actually know the way to deal with, together with a latest pair of female-lead motion automobiles, “The Princess” and “Prey,” the latter representing the newest installment within the “Predator” franchise.
Granted, the direct-to-streaming route seems to restrict the alternatives and rewards for this form of fare; nonetheless, given the alternatives that one thing like “Rosaline” faces, ‘tis higher to see their gentle emanating from yonder TV than by no means to have them made in any respect.
“Rosaline” premieres October 14 on Hulu within the US, Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in different territories.