One True Loves (2023)

One True Loves has the rare confidence to treat a romantic dilemma not as a gimmick, but as a human problem with real emotional weight: how do you honor who you were, without betraying who you’ve become? Andy Fickman keeps the tone warmly accessible—part cozy small-town charm, part aching grown-up honesty—while Phillipa Soo anchors the film with a performance that feels openhearted rather than melodramatic, and Simu Liu brings an easy, lived-in sweetness that makes the choices matter. It’s the kind of romance that earns its comedy in the margins of everyday life, then lands its drama with a quiet, sincere punch. If you prefer your love stories tidy and escapist, this may feel too complicated, but if you like romances that respect grief, growth, and chemistry that actually sparks, it’s an easy one to root for.

One True Loves is clearly aiming for a bittersweet, grown-up rom-com about grief, second chances, and the uncomfortable truth that love can change shape over time. The problem is it often looks and feels like a TV movie, with choppy pacing and a tone that can’t decide if it wants to be heartfelt drama or wink-at-the-camera comedy, so the big emotions don’t land as hard as they should. The central dilemma is juicy on paper, but the writing leans on contrived behavior and forced conflict, which makes the relationships feel less nuanced and more like plot machinery. If you want a sweeping, believable tearjerker, this may frustrate you—but if you’re okay with a lighter, slightly glossy melodrama and you mainly want charming leads and an easy watch, it has enough warmth to pass the time.