There are few sure things in life – death, taxes, and the fact that every year, a film lands on your lap that utterly surprises you and leaves you longing for more. This film deserves endless praise and to be talked about by everyone and anyone. This year’s buzz-worthy movie is Tribeca gem, Dating & New York, a charming modern-day romantic comedy that is devised as a dating-app fairy tale in the most magical city in the world, New York.
Dating & New York tells the story of Milo and Wendy, two individuals whose past dating life can be classified as failures. Both have been through their respective break-ups and ghosting throughout many relationships. But, thanks to the dating app “Meet Cute,” the two find each other, and both agree to a “best friends with benefits” contract to avoid the pitfalls and struggle of a relationship. Throughout their relationship, they receive plenty of doubt from their friends about their arrangement.
What works so well with the film is it modernizes the rom-com while blending in some much-needed satire. I am not a fan of romantic comedies and have constantly felt the situations set up in these films don’t add up to real-life circumstances.
Jonah Feingold’s film does not fall for those tropes as it establishes that there are new rules to modern dating. Feingold had stated in an interview with Variety that “even back when our parents were meeting, it seemed very wholesome, simple. You sat next to each other on an airplane, you were neighbors, you met in law school.” That’s not the case here.
Dating & New York examines a complex reality of dating than ever seen before and is one of the first films of the genre to put a focus on the dating app era and establishes it as an entity that should not be frowned upon but welcomed as a method of individual connection. As we saw this past year with COVID, dating apps are more important than ever in fostering human connection.
The film’s authenticity stems from Feinberg’s script and the two leads’ performances – Francesca Reale and Jaboukie Young-White. The chemistry between these two is undeniable and each offers layers to their characters that make the development of their relationship feel believable. There comes the point in any relationship where doubts play as to whether or not a couple should take it to the next level, whether casual or not. The audience is invested in Reale and Young-White’s relationship and you can’t help but root for them.
The supporting players are no slouches either, as Alex Moffat and Catherine Cohen are pretty hilarious in their roles as Trent and Jessie. While the film’s central focus is on Wendy and Milo, Trent and Jessie develop a relationship that is adorable to see. Adding a more minor but effective cameo is Entourage’s Jerry Ferrara’s Cole the Doorman, who works in Milo’s building, and that’s all I’ll say about that.
Maria Rusche’s cinematography is stunning. If New York becomes a character in the movie because of the cinematography, it adds to the overall film’ss effectiveness, and Rusche’s work delivers. Every aspect of Rusche’s cinematography makes the audience fully aware that you are watching a New York film, and that’s for the betterment of it.
Dating & New York is not just one of the best films of the Tribeca Film Festival, but it’s one of the best romantic comedies in quite a while. It’s charismatic, delightful, and wonderfully analyzes the concepts of modern love, casual/ serious relationships, and all its possibilities.
