One Day (2011)

Anne Hathaway is a polarizing figure. Some see her charm while others run from it. In “One Day,” she’s at her most adorable, and what makes her and the story such a treat to watch is its realism. It expresses some of the most universal fears and hopes about life and love. Love isn’t meant to be this dream we conceive, but instead a memory to be held when we’re forced to change for the betterment of ourselves.

“One Day,” adapted from the 2009 David Nicholls novel of the same name, isn’t a sappy story. In fact, it lays the groundwork down well for a journey that’s easy to follow, a credit to director Lone Scherfig, who didn’t fall into the teenage girl adaptation trap.

Emma Morley (Hathaway) and Dexter Mayhew (Jim Sturgess) are drunk and feeling like third wheels on July 15, 1988. When their eyes meet, they attempt a one night stand, but they call it off and decide to let their friendship ride. It grows even stronger when Emma gets caught up in a dead end job in London, and Dexter goes on to teach English in Paris. She thought she’d make a difference, but it’s the encouragement from Dexter that keeps her pursuing a writing career.

Dexter soon finds fame and fortune and whisks Emma away on vacation when he realizes she needs the escape. The two have a charming back-and-forth wit worthy of a few chuckles.

Dexter eventually falls prey to the evils of his party lifestyle and not only his amiability but his potential as well. All the while, Emma is becoming the woman of his dreams.

This is where the movie’s brilliance comes across – it somehow finds a way to mirror the two friends’ emotions against each other but at different times. We understand how parallel this friendship is and just how much opposites do attract. It’s beautiful and hopeless. That’s what makes their love pop.

“One Day” is a nice twist on the typical cookie-cutter romantic formula. It’s a love story with a lot of real world resonance and an enchanting performance from Hathaway. “One Day” will leave you with hope and, perhaps, a little sourness, but also the ambition to take cupid’s arrow and never let it go. It’s amazing what can be accomplished in just one day.

Watch the trailer here