The Broken Hearts Gallery
Starring: Geraldine Viswanathan, Dacre Montgomery, Phillipa Soo, Molly Gordon, Natalie Krinsky
Directed By: Natalie Krinsky
Rated: PG-13
I’ll just say it; we need more good romantic comedies. Not cheesy, lifeless Netflix originals, but romantic comedies that make you laugh. That make you think, “maybe I do want to find love.” That make you leave the theater with a smile on your face and the desire to blast Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” at max volume. Writer/director Natalie Krinsky has made that movie with “The Broken Hearts Gallery.”
“The Broken Hearts Gallery” has flown under the radar since getting an exclusively theatrical release in September. With theaters suffering a crisis due to the coronavirus, it hasn’t exactly been buzzed about. However, I hope it’ll find an audience, whether it’s theatrically or through streaming because this is such a feel-good movie!
Lucy is dubbed a relationship hoarder by friends after she holds on to everything from each past ex-boyfriend. When she is broken up with by the guy she thought was “the one,” she is heartbroken. A chance encounter leads her to Nick (Dacre Montgomery), a hotel owner. The two build a new friendship, and Lucy opens up a unique space called “The Broken Hearts Gallery” in his hotel, a place where jilted exes can come to leave memories of their past loves.
Geraldine Viswanathan is charming, spirited, and witty as Lucy. She’s a believable protagonist that the audience can relate to. Her past heartaches have made her into a “relationship hoarder,” collecting as many Knick knacks as she can to remember each boyfriend. As odd as it seems, Lucy has a reason for all of this, and there’s a lot more to her character than just a surface level rom-com stereotype.
Dacre Montgomery is a long way away from Stranger Things and pulls off the leading man role. Nick is over the idea of hopeless romanticism, opposite of Lucy. Yet the two still can’t seem to stay away from each other. Ah, gotta love the rom-com. Montgomery shows glimpses of Zac Efron here, and his chemistry with Geraldine Viswanathan is lovely to watch.
The supporting cast is just as fun to watch. Phillipa Soo of Hamilton fame is Nadine. She describes herself as a “stay-at-home model” Nadine is a player who has a new girlfriend every time she’s on-screen. Molly Gordon is Amanda, the morbid roommate obsessed with true crime, and Nathan Dales plays Jeff, her boyfriend, who never speaks a word but is always understood by the group. They’re a quirky bunch who always find a way to entertain.
“The Broken Hearts Gallery” is a charming, heartfelt rom-com that entertains and uplifts the audience. If you get a chance to see it, don’t miss out!
My Rating: 7/10