The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Written and directed by first-time director, Josh Boone, Stuck in Love is a warm indie drama and a fresh new addition to the world of romantic comedies. Exploring the subject of love’s ups and downs, the film follows the Borgens; a family shaken up by the cruelty of divorce.

The father, Bill (Kinnear), is a celebrated novelist and a hopeless romantic, experiencing a serious case of writer’s block as he is unable to move on and accept that his ex-wife, Erica (Connelly), walked out on him almost two years ago. He regularly sneaks up to the windows of her new house, which she now shares with a much-younger new husband, and finds pleasure in witnessing the newly-wed couple squabble. 

His behaviour doesn’t sit well with his daughter, Sam (Collins), who has not spoken to her mother for over a year. Recently publishing her first book, college student Sam is deeply saddened to see her father falling deeper into a rut. Unlike him, she sees herself as a realist and doesn’t waste time on love, instead opting to indulge in meaningless one-night stands. Her younger brother, Rusty (Wolff), on the other hand, is a romantic at heart – just like his dad – and is finding it hard to find his place in the world.  Shy and introverted, Rusty is longing for the attention of a lonesome and troubled classmate, Kate (Liberato,) and decides that if anything is to change, he will need to put his heart on the line.

Witty and romantic, Stuck in Love’s biggest appeal comes in the form of Kinnear, who comes across as extremely likeable and very easy to root for; one can’t help but feel sorry for a  man hoping that his one true love will one day return.

Connelly, meanwhile, adds some much needed weight to the story. Similarly, both kids are a delight to watch; in particular Wolff, who portrays young love with an enormous amount of cute awkwardness and amiability. Although Collins is quite competent throughout, she carried a misplaced air of self-importance and arrogance towards the end. Entertaining dialogue compensates for many of the films short-falls and the on-screen chemistry between the cast makes for a charming viewing experience.

Although the setting is quite stunning in parts, the dreamy beach backdrops tended to feel both static and studio-like.

They say that love is the answer to everything; it can heal, break, inspire, inhibit and more often than not, it can make you do crazy things you never thought possible. Stuck in Love happily celebrates the plurality of love and even though it lacks that needed dash of sentimentality, the end-result will still warm your heart.