Love at Second Sight (2019)

Love at Second Sight takes a familiar romantic wish—getting a do-over—and turns it into a clever, tender fantasy where love isn’t just destiny, it’s a choice you keep making. Hugo Gélin gives the story a buoyant, wintry Parisian glow, balancing laugh-out-loud fish-out-of-water moments with a surprisingly heartfelt look at what ambition can cost a relationship. François Civil is wonderfully human as a man scrambling to earn back a life he once took for granted, while Joséphine Japy brings real spark and gravity to a woman who feels fully alive in every version of herself. If you like romances with a high-concept hook and an earnest, bittersweet aftertaste, this one will charm you; if you prefer your love stories strictly grounded, the fantasy mechanics may feel a touch convenient.

Love at Second Sight wants to be a sweet, high-concept rom-com about regret, second chances, and learning to value your partner before it’s too late, and it mostly coasts on that charming premise. The problem is it leans hard on familiar “alternate reality” beats and convenient plot turns, so if you’re allergic to contrivances or want the fantasy rules to hold up under scrutiny, you’ll start rolling your eyes. It also asks you to root for a guy who’s been pretty self-involved, and while the film knows that’s the point, not everyone will enjoy watching him scramble to earn back what he took for granted. Still, François Civil and Joséphine Japy are likable, the Parisian gloss is easy on the eyes, and if you’re in the mood for a light, sentimental reset-button romance rather than something deep or surprising, it’ll do the job.