Tag: HeroFiennesTiffin

Picture This

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Prime Video’s latest romantic comedy offering comes in the form of Picture This. Pia (Simone Ashley) has always marched to the beat of her own drum despite her family’s wishes to settle down and find a husband. When she receives a prediction that true love will find her in five dates, they step up to the plate to play matchmaker. Their plans may be thwarted, however, when her ex Charlie (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) reappears.

Ashley soared to fame in Netflix’s Sex Education and Bridgerton. For her first leading role, I thought she did a commendable job. Her character stuck to her guns no matter what and always put her passion for photography first. I had no idea she could be funny either; her little quips and one liners combined with the physical aspects worked well. Fiennes Tiffin has come a long way since the After series. I’m glad that he’s putting himself forward for different roles and getting more out there.

Laxmi (Sindhu Vee), Mukul (Adil Ray) and Sonal (Anoushka Chada) make up Pia’s mother, father and sister. They were all perfectly casted. Everyone gelled well and it did feel like a proper family. I can’t forget Pia’s best friend Jay (Luke Fetherston). Seemingly the brother she never had, their scenes were so genuine.

While the chemistry between our two leads was cute, I can’t say that the film was really a romcom. The main focus was definitely on Pia and while I preferred that direction more, I do think it would be confusing to those expecting more swoon-worthy moments.

Picture This didn’t quite deliver on the romance aspect. Where it made up for was in the running theme of family. That was where the true heart of the film laid and that is where it excelled the most.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

After Everything

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In the fifth and final instalment of the After series, After Everything follows Hardin (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin) on his journey in finding himself. When Tessa (Josephine Langford) broke things off, Hardin turned back to his old ways. Knowing he can’t live like this forever, he travels to Portugal in search of a woman from his past, hoping to make amends with her so that he can finally move on and hopefully win back Tessa in the process.

I’m still salty they felt the need to make the last book into a two part movie – it wasn’t necessary whatsoever. Speaking as a huge fan of this franchise, I did not want to sit through something that only really had Hessa scenes in it for about ten minutes, but I knew I’d have to. It was the only way I’d be able to see them finally get their happily ever after.

It wasn’t pretty, I’ll be honest. This is my least favorite of the series. Don’t get me wrong, Hero has come such a long way since the first film. He led this one perfectly and he looked damn fine while doing so. But did I really need to see him hook up with that flight attendant even if it was a dream? Or to see him hang out with Natalie (Mimi Keene)? I just can’t think of Hardin with anyone other than Tessa. I also didn’t think we needed the rivarly between Hardin and Sebastian (Benjamin Mascolo). At least the backdrop of Lisbon was a treat.

At least I can say with certainty that it was well worth the wait. This story has always been about Tessa and Hardin. Their chemistry is electric and while I know their relationship has been extremely problematic, the love is there at the end of the day and I’m so pleased with how it all wrapped up. This series was there for me during a rather difficult part of my life and now I’m sad that it’s all over.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

After Ever Happy

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*Caution – Minor Spoilers Ahead*

Based on the worldwide phenomenon by Anna Todd, After Ever Happy is the final book in the beloved After series. Hardin (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) has just discovered his mother (Louise Lombard) has been hiding a secret from him his whole life. Turns out Ken (Rob Estes) was never his father, but rather family friend Christian Vance (Stephen Moyer) holds that title. Having his life completely turned upside down with the news, Hardin questions everything he thought he knew – including his relationship with Tessa (Josephine Langford). But Tessa has some skeletons of her own and they soon realize that they have a lot more in common than they ever could have imagined.

Though I may have only been apart of the After fandom for a little over a year now, that doesn’t mean that my expectations for the fourth and final film weren’t sky high. While it wasn’t my favorite out of the series, I remember feeling satisfied with the ending and couldn’t wait to see it play out on screen.

The chemistry between Fiennes Tiffin and Langford has always been off the charts and this time around was no exception. I don’t know how they do it, but every single time, I feel as if my heart is caught in my throat as I watch them together. You know it’s toxic and you wish they’d break up time and time again, but you still want them to make it at the end of the day.

You could, therefore, imagine my shock when the words ‘to be continued’ appeared at the end of the final scene. We all assumed this was it; Hessa were supposed to get their happily ever after! We’d see them get married and have children years in the future. Turns out the cast and crew had a surprise for us all: a fifth and proper finale that has just wrapped filming. I guess they decided to pull a Twilight and split the book in two.

On the one hand, I am pleased. If it is the rest of After Ever Happy then I don’t want them to leave any details out. But if the rumors are true, and it’s part of the sequel about their children, then they can keep it. There is also some worry that Langford wasn’t even part of it which wouldn’t make any sense.

Because of this, I have struggled to formulate my thoughts on this film. I wish we had known going into it that we were going to get more. I’m sure it would have increased my enjoyment, but that of others too.

Rating: ♥♥♥

After We Fell

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The third instalment of the popular After series, After We Fell, picks up right after the events of After We Collided. Tessa (Josephine Langford) has decided to take the leap and move to Seattle. Her choice hasn’t come lightly however, especially because Hardin (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) doesn’t want her to go. Their relationship has never been easy, but as all these changes occur, revelations about both Tessa and Hardin’s family threaten to tear them apart forever.

Long story short, I am very late to the After fandom. I read all four books in the span of two weeks back in June and fell head over heels in love. Are they crap? Absolutely. Are they amazing nonetheless? Yes, yes they are. It’s like a train wreck I couldn’t look away from and eventually I had to admit to myself that I was obsessed. So, you could imagine my excitement that I would finally have the opportunity to see one of the films on the big screen. I had high hopes for this one as book three is my favorite. The previous two instalments were fine, however I still wanted more from them. Book three had a lot to live up too.

There was a lot to appreciate in this movie. Both Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin have grown so much since they started this journey together and you can really tell this time around. Hero, in particular, really impressed me (and no, I’m not just saying that because I’m in love with him). It seems like he’s grown over the years and he really made me feel for him. Their chemistry together is on fire, it almost doesn’t seem real.

I loved that for once, it seems like we finally have a director who understands these characters and knows how important it is to deliver a close to perfect book to film adaptation for fans. Castille Landon did a fabulous job incorporating as much as she could from the largest volume in the series and I’m thrilled that she’s on board for the fourth and final one too.

After We Fell exceeded my expectations entirely. I really wasn’t sure what to expect going into it and was satisfied walking out of the cinema. Now excuse me while I wait (im)patiently for After Ever Happy.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥