Once upon a time, streaming romantic comedies was a place where young stars like Joey King and Zoey Deutch showed off their potential as leading ladies. These days, however, they seem to be a place where Oscar-winning actresses court younger men. Earlier this year, Nicole Kidman had a romance with Zac Efron A family affair, while Anne Hathaway seduced a fake Harry Styles The idea of ​​you. Now Laura Dern is here to enchant Liam Hemsworth on Netflix Lonely planet, A travel novel set on a writer's vacation in Morocco.

Lonely planet has an impressive pedigree thanks to writer-director Susannah Grant, who has previously written or co-written popular female-centric films ForeverErin Brockovich, And In her shoes, as well as the Netflix miniseries Incredible. Oddly enough, however, it's her direction that stands out much more than her writing style Lonely planet. The film was shot on location in Morocco and it shows: cinematographer Ben Smithard fills the film with wide shots of blue-tiled street markets, handheld shots of a busy family tea service, sweeping desert vistas at golden hour, and atmospheric lighting in the Kasbah where the authors -Retreat takes place. This alone is enough to make it stand out from the sea of ​​Netflix offerings, which often look like they were filmed in IKEA showrooms.

It's also a solid, if not exceptionally acted, film. Despite the almost disastrous decision to make Hemsworth use an American accent instead of his natural Australian accent (did 10 things I hate about you teach us nothing?!?), there is a warm, believable chemistry between him and Der. While this may be a May-December romance (Dern is 23 years older than her co-star), Hemsworth's grounded masculine confidence makes him feel like an equal in their dynamic. Dern, on the other hand, delivers the kind of quirky, self-possessed charm offensive that has made her such a popular screen presence over the past four decades.

The strength of the services is crucial because Lonely planetThe script leaves something to be desired. Despite the clear intention of making this a wistful romance novel for adults, the characters are poorly drawn and are a little too fond of using romantic comedy clichés. Dern's Katherine Loewe is a well-known but reclusive author who suffers from grief and writer's block. Hemsworth's Owen Brophy is an unrefined finance bro who is dragged into retreat by his excitable girlfriend Lily (Diana Silvers), a young novelist caught up in the stormy success of her debut book. The social dynamic of withdrawal soon drives a wedge between Owen and Lily, even as it brings Katherine and Owen closer together. But can his ex-high school quarterback's sincerity match her belief that she's only tolerable to be with when she's not writing?

Script-wise, Lonely planet never really establishes why Katherine and Owen are attracted to each other on more than just a physical level. But that doesn't matter when the performances, direction and melodic score work overtime to sell the connection. The romance consists almost entirely of the longing glances the two share on road trips across the country and at Moroccan café tables. The attraction is rooted in their open-minded curiosity and the mutual comfort of silence. Lonely planet is not steamy The idea of ​​you or crazy A family affair, But it has an appeal that's more about the plot than the plot, and it carries over to the central romance as well.

While a meatier version of this script might have been an ensemble dramedy about all the crazy writers at the retreat and the parallels between their stories – sort of Best exotic Marigold Hotel for Morocco—Lonely planet has no interest in characters that aren't his two leads. The co-authors practically disappear as soon as they are introduced. Even poor Lily barely plays a role in Owen's story; he's immediately disinterested in her as soon as he spots Katherine. “Inevitable” is too mild a word for the way this love story unfolds. It feels generous to even call it a story.

In fact, so little happens Lonely planet that it's more of a dreamy, 96-minute Moroccan tourism advert than anything else. But there are worse things than watching two beautiful people share a deep bond over beautiful footage of a centuries-old civilization. The fact that the film has nothing at stake and takes place in a deep emotional tone is part of its appeal – the kind of subgenre known in publishing parlance as “comfortable romance.” For those who are tired of love stories with overly grand gestures: Lonely planet offers something different. While it's not the kind of life-changing vacation you'll think about again after the credits roll, it's a thoroughly enjoyable day trip to the land of gentle romance.

Director: Susannah Grant
Writer: Susannah Grant
With: Laura Dern, Liam Hemsworth, Diana Silvers, Younes Boucif, Adriano Giannini, Rachida Brakni
Release date: October 11, 2024 (Netflix)