Film Review – Oh, Hi! (2025)

      Oh, Hi!, 2025.

      Written and Directed by Sophie Brooks.

      Starring Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan, John Reynolds, Polly Draper, David Cross, Desmin Borges, Jimmy Gary Jr., Tabitha Lawing, Ruben Ortiz, Diana Irvine, and Sabina Friedman-Seitz.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Iris believes she has found her ideal partner, Isaac, and is relishing their first romantic getaway together—what could possibly go wrong?

      In Sophie Brooks’ Oh, Hi!, Molly Gordon plays Iris, a romantic optimist with a fascination for Casablanca who struggles in the dating scene, often facing the recurring challenge of her love interests’ reluctance to commit. They frequently claim that the timing isn't right or that they're not in the right mindset for a relationship. Consequently, during their vacation to O’High Falls—with Logan Lerman as Isaac—he reveals (rather conveniently after an intense, BDSM-lite encounter) that despite appearing to be a couple, he is not interested in a committed relationship and has been seeing other people.

      This revelation prompts Iris to have a somewhat understandable breakdown, leaving Isaac bound to the bed while she rushes downstairs, obsessively researching online how to convince someone that they’re actually in love with you, a rather manipulative strategy. The premise is chaotic and could have worked as the dark romantic comedy Brooks aimed for, but it quickly stretches the concept far beyond its limits, introducing new characters and dynamics that spiral into absurdity, undermining the entire experience about 45 minutes in, when it becomes clear there's no reasonable message about complicated or toxic relationships.

      It is humorously warped to see Iris methodically try different activities to demonstrate what a lasting relationship might entail, like preparing breakfast (she isn’t even sure if Isaac enjoys French toast) or helping him urinate in a bowl while claiming this represents what they could experience in their old age. The performances stand out as one of the film's few strengths, with Molly Gordon embodying a frantic yet sympathetic character, upset due to her history and the fear of losing another partner, illustrating the delicate timing required for relationships to develop. It’s also plausible that Isaac is just another commitment-phobic player dealing with insecurities, or perhaps a mix of all three.

      The film seemingly benefited from its premiere at Sundance, as the first act presents the story as a typical romantic comedy without revealing its true nature until after the intimate scene. That said, it's apparent that the situation will take a downturn; the movie opens in medias res, teasing the return of Iris’ friend Max (Geraldine Viswanathan, always a welcome presence, though not adding much to an already stretched narrative). Brooks relies on the unpredictability of where these characters will end up, but deep down, it feels like a goofy, cringeworthy, and implausible conclusion is inevitable—and it indeed delivers that.

      The humor also becomes excessively ridiculous given the seriousness of the story, at one point involving the creation of a witchcraft potion. While the attempt at comedy falls flat, the main issue is that, following a certain moment, Oh, Hi! should shift away from humor. Nonetheless, it continues to dig itself into a deeper incongruity, culminating in a truly eye-roll-inducing finale.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★

      Robert Kojder