Review of The One I Love (2014) by Lindsay W — 14 Sep 2015

Putting forth a twist to truly Love, the writing behind this romantic dramedy lets this One get away despite an amazing cast committed to making it work. Screenwriter Justin Lader presents filmgoers with a twist that Rod Serling himself would salivate at, but the premise (without spoiling too much, let's just say that it involves doppelgangers of sorts) never lives up to its promise. Despite a small but marquee band of actors (Ted Danson rounds out the roster as the couple's therapist), the screenplay simply doesn't do enough with the film's compelling hook. It's the rare film that could have gone longer in the audience's eye. Based on pure moxie alone, however, the film succeeds more than it hits the rocks.

In this R-rated dramedy, a couple (Duplass, Moss) struggling with a marriage on the brink of falling apart escapes for a weekend in pursuit of their better selves, only to discover an unusual dilemma that awaits them.

For those Mad Men fans that wanted to see what Moss was capable of beyond coloring outside of the lines of brilliant character Peggy Olson, her latest features a gangbuster idea that never fully plays out. Though not a total loss, The One I Love isn't quite finished enough to hang in Serling's Night Gallery.

Bottom line: Twilight Zoned.