Universal's latest film, the Marc Meyers-directed All My Life, falls into a very familiar romantic subgenre. Based on the real life relationship of Jennifer Carter and Solomon Chau, which went viral back in 2015, All My Life focuses on a passionate romance cut short by a devastating illness. Unlike most movies that tell this type of story, All My Life holds more poignancy because of its basis in reality. It's unfortunate, then, that Jenn and Sol's story as told onscreen suffers a pacing issue that ultimately detracts from its heartbreaking (but also optimistic) tale. Bolstered by the sweet chemistry of its attractive leads, All My Life doesn't listen to its central message: Make the most of the time you have.
Jenn (Jessica Rothe) and Sol (Harry Shum Jr.) have a meet cute at a sports bar, and Sol's adorably bumbling attempts at being charming instantly win over the bubbly Jenn. Their courtship flies by in several slice-of-life moments, giving their social circles and interests a passing glance. Before long, Sol proposes to Jenn, and the two prepare for their happily ever after. Unfortunately, however, it isn't meant to be, as Sol is soon diagnosed with liver cancer. Though the couple resigns themselves to putting off their wedding, their friends rally to give them the ceremony they both deserve. Anyone who knows of the real Jenn and Sol's story will know where things go from there, though even those who don't likely won't be surprised.
To pull off a movie like All My Life, the casting of the leads is vital. Luckily, All My Life succeeded in that department. Rothe, best known for her scream queen role as Tree in the Happy Death Day movies, does much of the work in bringing Jenn to life. The early portion of the film sees Jenn at her brightest, and later on, as Sol grapples with his disease, Rothe perfectly embodies Jenn's heartbroken, yet fierce determination as she wills him to fight back. As her partner in all forms, Shum finally gets to play the romantic lead he didn't get the chance to in Crazy Rich Asians, and he makes the most of it. Fans of his television work won't be surprised to see him slip into the shoes of the kind-hearted Sol with ease. It isn't hard to believe why these two would fall for each other based on the chemistry they share.
And it's a good thing the chemistry is there, because the script isn't. To be sure, screenwriter Todd Rosenberg keeps the first half hour (which covers Jenn and Sol's relationship up until the proposal) moving at a brisk pace. At the same time, the vignette-like moments don't do much to delve into Jenn and Sol as people, beyond some basic facts. Sol loves to cook, Jenn doesn't like to work out, that sort of thing. As a result, the actual foundation of the central relationship is a little shaky. Yes, these two like each other a lot, but when they go from a first date to moving in together to getting engaged with little meaningful connective tissue, it's a bit hard to believe in their passion.
Furthermore, the decision to keep Sol's diagnosis until 30 minutes into the film lends a clumsiness to the rest of the proceedings. All My Life comes across as wanting to tell a lighthearted love story with a side of tragedy. When Sol gets sick, there's little proof of it that the audience can see beyond some doctor's visits and Sol's frustrated looks. Rosenberg and Meyers choose to gloss over the true hardships that come from a battle with cancer, save for one brutal fight between Jenn and Sol over his treatment. To be sure, some audiences might prefer this, but it feels like it only robs the movie of its emotional heft. That All My Life only stretches to an hour and a half doesn't help; more time could've been spent developing the characters and deepening Sol's struggle.
As a lighthearted romance, All My Life mostly succeeds. Watching Jenn and Sol's wedding come together tugs at the heartstrings, and one does find themselves rooting for these two to make it. However, as the story of a couple pressing on despite insurmountable odds for their love, it falters. All My Life could have either used an additional half hour, or different scenes to fill its brisk runtime. As a result, tissues may not be necessary for this one.
All My Life debuts in theaters on Friday, December 4. It is 93 minutes long and rated PG-13 for brief language.
Let us know what you thought of the film in the comments section!
Key Release Dates
-
All My Life
Release Date:2020-12-04
