The digital age has changed dating irrevocably, with a seemingly endless list of apps designed to form connections and ever-evolving etiquette for prospective lovers to follow. New release Dating & New York, from writer-director Jonah Feingold in his feature film debut, attempts to find some magic in a familiar friends-with-benefits setup. There's genuine chemistry between leads Jaboukie Young-White and Francesca Reale, and Feingold finds clever ways to integrate elements like smartphones into what the audience sees onscreen. Unfortunately, Dating & New York can't find anything new to say about the world of casual dating, so its love story never fully gets off the ground.
After a cutesy opening straight from a storybook, New York millennials Milo (Young-White) and Wendy (Reale) meet through a dating app that is, appropriately, named "Meet Cute." Their first date goes well, culminating in the two going home together. Despite an apparent interest in seeing each other again, Wendy ghosts Milo for weeks. Then, when struck with an urge to never "be an ex" again, Wendy texts Milo with a proposal: A no strings attached, friends-with-benefits relationship. Milo's already catching feelings, but he agrees, leading the two semi-lovebirds on a journey to determining if happily ever after truly does exist.
Right from the outset, Feingold brings in clever visual tics, from the storybook opening to the use of a dating profile to convey details about Milo and Wendy. They offer a fresh approach to the modern romcom, and Dating & New York makes use of them sporadically throughout its slim 92-minute runtime. When it comes to depicting, say, the agony of waiting for a reply (and watching those little text bubbles pop up), Feingold knows how to capture that sensation. In that sense, Dating & New York definitely has its finger on the pulse of dating at this moment in time (minus pandemic-era obstacles, as this was shot in the fall of 2019).
The issue, then, is that the movie doesn't have anything new to say about it. Milo and Wendy's love story proceeds just about exactly as anyone would expect, which isn't necessarily a bad thing when it comes to romcoms. However, it's very clear that Feingold intended Dating & New York to offer a unique perspective on love today. Sadly, aside from the visual flourishes, the movie's messages aren't anything groundbreaking. Wendy's the one who doesn't believe in genuine relationships and she frequently rebuffs Milo's attempts at wooing her, opting instead to retreat into her dating apps. Naturally, she learns her lesson by the end, but the journey itself doesn't end up being as swoon-worthy as one might expect. Feingold's script takes on a more slice-of-life format that could've served Dating & New York well if it focused on more meaningful moments in Wendy and Milo's relationship. Instead, it never delves deeply into either of the two characters and seems to only touch upon the banal or repetitive.
None of this is to say that the leads can't convincingly pull off their relationship. Young-White and Reale know how to play off each other, with the flirty banter flowing easily. Neither of them are given much more to work with beyond the basic characterization notes Milo and Wendy have. For him, it's his hopeless romantic side; for her, it's her fear of true commitment. Catherine Cohen and Brian Muller get in some sweet moments as their friends Jessie and Hank, respectively, with their own love story taking a vastly different path.
Ultimately, Dating & New York tries very hard to be the quintessential millennial love story, but it doesn't do enough to develop its romantic heroes or their bond. The themes of dating in a world where "swipe left" is a common phrase already feel well-worn and better explored elsewhere. There are some charms to be found in the chemistry between the various performers, and Feingold has some fun ideas for how to represent certain ideas. It just doesn't come together to form a very satisfying romcom. Dating & New York might have its heart in the right place, but hopeless romantics could be better served elsewhere.
Dating & New York is now playing in select theaters and is available to rent on digital. It is 92 minutes long and rated PG-13 for sexual material and brief language.
Key Release Dates
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Dating & New York
Release Date:2021-09-10
