Based on David Nicholls' bestseller, this downbeat same-time-next-year romantic drama follows two people who spent the night together at their 1988 college graduation. We then see them on the same day, July 15, each year for 20 years, sometimes together, sometimes apart. At the outset, determined to continue their hastily forged friendship, ambitious, aspiring writer Emma (Anne Hathaway) and superficial dilettante Dexter (Jim Sturgess) agree to enjoy their “anniversary” day catching up with one another. She's frumpy and bespectacled, while he's a wealthy, irresponsible womanizer, and—of course—she's secretly in love with him, despite having her hopes dashed with predictable regularity. Eventually Dex becomes a trendy late-night TV host, while Emma writes a successful children's book; but their personal lives are a mess. Drug-addled, hard-partying Dex impregnates and marries socialite Sylvie (Romola Garai), while dowdy Emma moves in with Ian (Rafe Spall), a wannabe standup comedian. Helmed by Danish director Lone Scherfig, One Day is an infuriatingly episodic, often tedious, maudlin melodrama that never develops the characters beyond tear-tugging schmaltz. A depressing dirge, this is not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Lone Scherfig, a behind-the-scenes featurette (6 min.), deleted scenes (5 min.), an “Em and Dex, Through the Years” featurette (4 min.), “Anne Hathaway: Bringing Emma to Life” with the actress (2 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing film.] (S. Granger)
One Day
Universal, 108 min., PG-13, DVD: $29.98, Blu-ray: $34.98, Nov. 29 Volume 26, Issue 6
One Day
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