One Day

I have mixed feelings about this movie. I know its a romance. And I very much love Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, but this film got a bit aggravating, after awhile. Is this all we can look back on of the 80's & 90's? A part of me felt as if this movie was a waste of time. And by the end, I felt guilty about thinking this way.

I know they are suppose to be childhood sweethearts, but not really. They were close to college age when they met. And this is England, for goodness sakes. Where was the punk rock and underground parties? I suppose, I was expecting more of a SKINS feel to it.

“And then she frowned, and shook her head, then put her arms around him once more, pressing her face into his shoulder, making a noise that sounded almost like rage.
‘What’s up?’ he asked.
‘Nothing. Oh, nothing. Just…’ She looked up at him. ‘I thought I’d finally got rid of you.’
‘I don’t think you can.’ he said”

—	David Nicholls, One Day

And of course, Sturgess' Dex was somewhat of a drunk and privileged while Hathaway's Em was prudish and stuck in a food service job.

“I don’t want you thinking I’m bothered or anything about last night. I don’t want your phone number,
or letters, or postcards I don’t want to get married to you. Definitely don’t want to have your babies. Whatever happens tomorrow, we’ve had today. And if we should bump into each other sometime in the future, well, that’s fine too. We’ll be friends.”

—	Emma, One Day

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Emma, One Day

What was good was their individual time lines.  While the male succeeded so quickly in life and the female struggled and didn't expect much, yet later she was the more successful one. He didn't exactly land on his feet after the downfall of his TV career.

Yet, this took years to show on the screen, and I know the movie meant well. Yes, Dex was rather dense and Em was not as confident as you'd hoped. But I can't say this show holds the 'romance' of old films.

Naturally, tragedy strikes. But they did find each other. Perhaps, not soon enough. The downside of the movie was that Dex has a daughter and you can see he neglects her love, but maybe that's not too late, either.

I can't say what it was, but there was something missing in this film. But if you are fan of either of these actors, I'm sure you own the movie by now.

“I hate today, fifteenth of July. I never noticed it before, but it was always there just waiting, lurking. I used to hate you too. Quite violently, actually, Dexter. No, I am sorry, but.. because she lit up with you. Just in a way that she never would with me, and it used to make me so angry because I didn’t think that you deserved her. She made you decent. And then in return, you made her so happy. So happy. And I will always be grateful to you for that.”

—

One Day

—

One Day

STORYLINE: Emma and Dexter meet on the night of their university graduation. We see them every year on the anniversary of that date - July 15th. Emma is smart but success doesn't come quickly for her, whereas for Dexter, success and women come very easily. Through the years they grow apart as their lives take different directions and they meet other people. But as they grow apart from those other people and their lives start taking opposite directions again, Emma and Dexter find that they belong with each other.

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