Meet Cute in Manhattan promises a love letter to rom-coms, and I was thrilled to see that it actually delivers. Romantic comedies have been making something of a comeback in recent years, and while I’m always ready for a good romp through new love, many of them have been so formulaic that they steer into the worst criticisms of the genre.

Meet Cute in Manhattan might feel like a risk because it is predicated on self-awareness of the rules of romance, as an aspiring rom-com writer lives out his own fake-dating New York dream. However, it’s one that absolutely pays off, with a funny, intelligent look at the rules without ever feeling like it looks down on the tropes that we know and love.

From the opening monologue (a vital part of the classic rom-com), it’s not entirely clear what is real and what isn’t, as scenes switch back and forth between Jason (Terence Chen) in a pitch meeting and the story he is pitching. It’s presented as his real life, but this isn’t confirmed right away, and the commentary from the execs he is pitching to is absolute gold. This layering continues, as the real story involves Jason fake-dating Nora (Kendall Leary) to film an ad series about the fake story of their “relationship”, and as the execs themselves quietly fall in love.

It would be easy for this to become too much for a single film to handle, but Meet Cute in Manhattan juggles it brilliantly, adding in commentary about racism in casting, surprisingly positive takes on influencer culture, multiple healthy and fleshed-out relationships, and a truly astounding number of rom-com references. It does fall down a little at the end, without the rousing finale that I really wanted, but its teasing jabs at romance are clearly always coming from a place of love.

Meet Cute In Manhattan Understands Why Romantic Comedies Matter

The Film Is Elevated By Realistic Relationships & Deeper Commentary

The best romantic comedies aren’t just about the central couple, but make a point about life and love with realistic conflicts (even in unrealistic situations). You’ve Got Mail has something to say about chain stores and new (at the time) technology, Notting Hill covers the struggles of relationships and fame, and Love Actually (for all its problems) is about all the different ways that real people deal with romance. Meet Cute in Manhattan gets this on a deep level and shines in the way that it portrays conflicts and relationships.

One of the best things about this is that even though Nora and Jason are both in relationships while they fall in love, their partners aren’t villains. Chloe (Amanda Shi) initially comes across as unappreciative, but the film quickly points out how hard she works and that she and Jason genuinely care for each other. Meanwhile, Kip (Martin K. Lewis) isn’t a terrible human, he’s just not right for Nora. Seeing their relationship fall apart doesn’t feel forced.

It’s refreshing to see real conflicts and conversations – even the two couples sitting down together to make sure that everyone is ok with the ad campaign. One of the most frustrating things to see in a romance is a miscommunication trope that could be fixed with a single sit-down, and Meet Cute in Manhattan knows it. The film even addresses other potential criticisms head-on, and with humor, like a conversation with the execs over whether it will pᴀss the Bechdel test.

Meet Cute In Manhattan Has Humor & Heart – But Its Weak Spot Is A Lack Of Heat

Thank God, It’s Meta AND Funny, But Could Do With A Little More Sєxual Tension

I was loving every reference, every inside joke to rom-com fans, and every well-played trope (because of course they have a moment of connection in a New York landmark while she explains what makes it special and he falls in love, and of course they meet up there later to reconnect). Some of these moments felt a touch obvious, but that’s so much the point that it manages to work. However, while Chen and Leary have phenomenal chemistry, the film as a whole lacks tension.

Unlike most other rom-coms, there are no Sєx scenes between them. This is a decidedly PG movie, where our romantic hero doesn’t have a single scene with his shirt off (or dripping wet, for those who prefer their heroes falling in lakes and fountains). In itself, that isn’t a bad thing, especially as plenty of other offerings in the genre are over-reliant on six-packs to sell the story. However, it needed a little more tension. It needed a Pride & Prejudice hand flex, or a too-close-for-comfort moment of lust to really get me involved in the relationship.

Sure, we get the spinning kiss at the end (and yes, I kicked my feet a little), but at times, the romance feels a little too platonic and some of the fight scenes struggle to really hit home. The pacing also slows during these moments as a result, and while the movie always manages to pick up again after a lull, a little more emotional intensity could have kept it from having any lulls at all.

Meet Cute In Manhattan Is A Rom-Com For The Female Gaze

We Need More Romantic Heroes Like Jason

While Meet Cute In Manhattan falls a little flat at times, and has lines that occasionally veer from homage to cheese, overall, it’s a beautifully smart, sweet rom-com that does exactly what it sets out to do. The meta commentary and humor is a highlight throughout, but if I had to pick one best element, it would be how Jason is written.

He is emotionally literate, creative, capable, and yet doesn’t have everything figured out. He’s not a wealthy CEO with excessive abs and a jaw that could cut steel. Instead, he feels like the kind of partner that anyone would want – and that it’s possible to meet. He has a great relationship with his family, and even though he doesn’t want to take the same path as his girlfriend (as she says, he thinks she is a sellout), the scene where he earnestly defends her work as an influencer is one of the best in the movie.

That’s what everyone wants – a person who sees them, who encourages them, who cares about doing the right thing and who will always stand up for them. We all deserve a Jason, and we all deserve more rom-coms like this one.