With Monday being the name of the film, many might expect the story to start on a weekday, but it begins on a Friday. The film opens like a traditional romantic comedy with two Americans, Mickey (Sebastian Stan) and Chloe (Denise Gough), who meet in the summer heat of Athens, Greece. Chloe is set to leave the country, but she gives up her job to explore the weekend with Mickey and their passionate love story ignites.
It’s love at first sight for the main characters who kiss right away and have wild sex on the beach when they meet at a house party. There is also the stereotypical airport scene where the man stops the girl from getting on a plane. Is it cheesy? Yes, but scenes like that are iconic. Although it feels like a romantic fantasy, Argyris Papadimitropoulos tries to draw in audiences with his honesty and realism.
IFC Films
Stan and Gough do a fine job with their performances, but they don’t have convincing romantic chemistry. To make any romance film successful, it is key for the leads to have a connection. Stan gives a better performance; his character is handsome, charming, and easily able to fall in love with, but when it comes to sharing a romantic bond with his co-star, it doesn’t feel real enough.
Mickey and Chloe both have commitment issues and baggage. They fall in love and face typical couple challenges while also trying to find themselves. Once reality sets in, their love begins to feel like a fantasy.
It is interesting to see what could happen to Mickey and Chloe and where they would end up because you can’t always tell how much time has passed in the film. The word “Friday'' appears a few times before a scene shows a week has passed how long Mickey and Chloe’s relationship has been going is unclear. Due to that, the pacing deflates what began as a very fast-paced and promising film. It slows down once the second act begins. The beautiful Athens setting makes Monday an escapist piece, but it goes downhill in a way that feels too familiar and generic. Strong Optional.