By John Corrado
Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek) gets a much deserved starring role in All That She Wants, a very enjoyable Canadian romantic-comedy from co-directors Scarlett Bermingham and Andrew Rhymer. It’s the sort of film that hits the rom-com beats and does them all very well, while adding some fresh twists to the genre.
Murphy stars in the film as Emma, a dancer in her mid-30s living in Toronto. Following a bad breakup, Emma goes out clubbing with her sister (Zosia Mamet). This leads to a “meet cute” with Luke (Cooper Raiff), a graduate student at least a decade her junior, who seems wise beyond his years and mature for his age. The two hookup, but the next morning reveals more complexities to their relationship that go beyond the age gap.
Emma’s sister is about to have a baby, which gets her thinking seriously about her own desire to have kids, and sends her on an unconventional journey to motherhood that is quite refreshing for a modern rom-com. As Emma, Murphy shines in a highly appealing comic performance that has hints of pathos as well. Raiff is charming as the cute (but obtainably so!) romantic lead. It’s a similar role to Cha Cha Real Smooth, but if he’s being typecast as the guy in his twenties who falls for women in their thirties, it’s a pretty good place to be.
Christine Baranski and Bill Irwin round out the cast as Emma’s parents. Bermingham and Rhymer’s film also simply works as a very enjoyable and cozy Toronto-set romantic-comedy, complete with scenes set around Christmas and some nice chemistry between the two leads. It’s delightful, and surprisingly touching in places as well.
The Joy of Movies 