Juliet, Naked

It’s easy to get lost in this summer’s romantic comedy releases, though some were better received than others. It may not have made the same splash on Twitter as some of the summer’s releases, but Juliet, Naked was a joy to watch. Directed by Jesse Peretz, the movie is based on one of Nick Hornby’s lesser known novels (but don’t worry, it still features delightfully dysfunctional characters).

Annie (Rose Byrne) is stuck in her small English hometown in a long-term relationship with Duncan (Chris O’Dowd), an obsessive fanatic of Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke), a particularly elusive American musician. Annie can’t stand the music, and by this point in their relationship, she can barely stand Duncan. In a fit of rage after a singularly nasty fight (over — what else? — Tucker Crowe), Annie posts an angry comment on Duncan’s fansite message board and receives an email from the elusive folk singer himself. This unlikely set-up leads to a truly charming transatlantic romance in which every character has to figure out what it means to finally grow up.

Tucker and Annie make for an unexpectedly sweet couple, which is especially surprising in light of Tucker’s history of disastrous relationships and neglectful parenting. The first time Annie and Tucker meet face to face, they’re surrounded by every member of his family yelling in a hospital room — an auspicious beginning that blooms into a mature and thoughtful depiction of an adult relationship. I walked out of the movie theater feeling buoyant with possibility. Go watch Juliet, Naked if you get the chance.