Friday, May 17, 2019
The Sun Is Also a Star
Suffocated in the current depressing news cycles, the only place
we can desperately grasp some air of relief is in the fictional
world. Serving as a perfect antidote, here comes a modern day
fairy-tale
"The Sun Is
Also a Star" (USA 2019 | 100 min.), directed
by Ry
Russo-Young based on Nicola Yoon's
best-selling young adult
novel. The
film's lovely couple shows us that magic can actually
happen when they open up their hearts to destiny. For the
audience, opening up hearts means you don't let your doubts
about the story's credibility get in the way of your
enjoyment of a pure fantasy in scenic New York City.
The fairy-tale begins with a narration about how insignificant we are to the universe, explained by the sharp-minded Natasha Kingsley (Yara Shahidi). But besides the philosophical deep thought, she also faces a more burning issue—her family will be deported back to Jamaica within 24 hours, even though she has regarded New York City as her only home where she has spent most of her teenage years.
In another part of the city, the square-jawed handsome Korean-American Daniel Bae (Charles Melton) is about to zip up his shirt to cover up his six-pack abs and to go for a college admission interview. Although his parents wish for him to become a doctor, his real passion is to be a poet.
On his way to his interview, Daniel spots Natasha gazing at the stars painted on the ceiling in Grand Central Station. Love at first sight, the overly confident Daniel promises Natasha that she will fall in love with him if she gives him a day. But Natasha doesn't have a day because her family's immigration case is closed, and her parents are waiting for her to go home and pack for next day's flight.
Will the attractive couple beat the odds and fall in love on the Big Apple's streets in less than one day?
As far as the film's dreamy story goes, of course
anything seemingly impossible can happen. They not only
fall in love, but also have time to go to museums,
sing karaoke, attend appointments, and even meet
the parents. New Yorkers often give others the impression
of being in a hurry, but these two teenagers seem pretty
relaxed, enjoying their romance and roaming around the city
while being extremely efficient.
If you can forgive the holes in the logistics and many
cheesy one-liners, and simply focus on the irresistible
couple's charming performance instead, you might just
begin to believe the fairy-tale. As if the two
charismatic protagonists are not beautiful enough for you
to adore, the film constantly cuts in dazzling views of
New York City from the air and on the ground, regardless
if they have anything to do with the story. It makes you
wonder if this is a co-production from the New York
Tourism Office.
The film's production is actually coming from a major
Hollywood studio. After the incredible success
of "Crazy Rich
Asians" (USA 2018), it's encouraging to
see Warner Bros. on
board again for another romantic film featuring an Asian
actor as the lead, even though the
28-year-old Charles
Melton looks far from a teenager. Besides giving
romantic comedy some welcoming fresh faces, this film
offers a pleasant escape from the dire reality.
"The Sun Is Also a Star"
opens
on Friday, May 17, 2019.
