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| Still from One Day |
On July 15, 1988, Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) graduate from the University of Edinburgh and after a night of celebrating, they begin a relationship which spans the course of over 20 years. After spending one night together, they vow every year after to re-convene as Friends on that same date, we too catch-up with them taking stock of where they are in their lives respectively. Although they find themselves growing further apart from one another as their lives and loves pull them in opposite directions, they find that one thing is constant - their undying regard for one another as each other's Soul Mates. Dexter is empty despite having wealth and hoards of admirers, while Emma despite having a stable career and relationship, is not self-fulfilled.
Adapted from the Novel One Day written also by David Nicholls, this Screen Adaptation is helmed by Lone Scherfig, who brought us 2009's outstanding An Education. To be frank, what ultimately keeps One Day from being an amazing Film is its own ambitions to be faithful to the Novel. Taking characters and aging them seamlessly over the course of 23 years involves a great amount of dexterity on all accounts, but both Sturgess and Hathaway - even with those audible Americanisms in her accent especially early on - do a credible job selling their chemistry. The pacing and tempo of the Story however appear rushed, while at the same time progressing slowly. That is, we never get the true essence of what drives Emma and Dexter to be impossibly inseparable as our attentions are directed constantly towards the minutiae of both their unhappy lives.
One Day ably fills the void in the sparse Romance genre and Female Moviegoers, but on a larger scale might not be remembered for its sincere message: to never waste a day when it comes to following your heart when it comes to Love. That being said, Hathaway and Sturgess Fans - and there are many - will not be disappointed with their work. One Day hits theatres August 19, 2011.
