Confessions of a Streamaholic

My Oxford Year a novel by Julia Whelan now adapted into a Netflix movie, here’s my as spoiler free as I can make it review. I had seen the movie poster for this a while back and knew it was a film I wanted to watch. I haven’t read the book so I had no idea what to expect and let’s just say it was a journey and I should have know it would be when the poster said from the producers of The Fault in our Stars but I missed that part so when the twist came I wasn’t expecting it.

Having not read the book the opening of the film felt very light and comforting, like we were getting ready for the ultimate rom-com, the music behind the beautiful setting really caught my attention and immersed me into that world. When we first see Jamie Davenport (Corey Mylchreest) and Anna De La Vega (Sofia Carson) interact I felt like we were going to be watching an enemies to lovers build up over the course of the film. However, quickly they seem to get past any tension and go straight for a friends with benefits situation.

I think the film manages to encapsulate the British humor and culture with it’s references and lines, most of which made me laugh out loud (Naked Attraction, if you know you know), Charlie (Harry Trevaldwyn) being the one to have most of them. I think the funny moments and good comedy helped to set it up as a rom com but even when the storyline changes humor is still at the forefront to still add a lightness to the seriousness.

The twist in the storyline had a moment where Corey’s character had a parallel to his role in Queen Charlotte with the infamous ‘GET OUT’ which I have seen constantly lip synced to on Tik Tok. The last quarter of the movie I was glad I hadn’t read the book as was genuinely shocked and surprised, the way it unfolded was heartbreaking. Since watching I have found out that the book has a different ending and I think as a fan of books the change of the ending if I had read the book would have really disappointed me as you are routing for these characters and to know it could have been different is a bittersweet moment.

There was a lot of good music used throughout the movie, Yellow by Coldplay playing a big feature to the love story. I think the continuance of music played in the right places and tracks that fit the vibe of the feeling and atmosphere in that scene made for it to be a really easy watch.

I am a fan of past projects by both Mylchreest & Carson so it’s not the first time I’ve seen them on screen and portraying a love story. They didn’t have the most insane chemistry I’ve ever seen on screen but I think for this movie they suited the characters they played and the relationship between the characters and how they were portrayed made it believable to the audience to be impacted by what happens in the latter part of the film.

Overall, I think it was a good movie, something I would watch again for it’s Britishness and comedy, if I wanted to have a cry or maybe again once I’ve read the book. I am intrigued to read the alternative ending the book has and to see if any little important bits to a reader has been missed out of the movie.