It's a tale almost as old as time: A boy and a girl meet and, due to extenuating circumstances, are unable to give into the palpable chemistry between them. Inevitably, though, they fall for each other, showing that love triumphs over all. That oft-repeated plot is very much the foundation for Sylvie's Love, an old-fashioned romantic drama from writer-director Eugene Ashe. There's a lot about Sylvie's Love that feels familiar, from the meet cute to the trials and tribulations faced by the main couple. Yet, there's also an endearing timelessness to the proceedings, which take place in the late 1950s/early 60s and are firmly steeped within the culture of those times. As a celebration of love and music, Sylvie's Love is a comforting and sweet movie that, while not breaking ground, is noteworthy in its earnestness.

Sylvie's Love first begins in 1962, when television producer Sylvie (Tessa Thompson) spots a familiar face while waiting for her cousin Mona (Aja Naomi King) outside a concert hall: Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha), a jazz musician. That introduction only lasts as long as the opening credits before things roll back to the summer of 1957, when Sylvie is merely an aspiring producer working in her father's (Lance Riddick) record store, and Robert's the new hire who is very clearly smitten with her. Despite her engagement to another man, Sylvie and Robert are drawn together for a whirlwind romance that only ends when life pulls them apart. However, as the movie has made quite clear, the two will reunite years later and see if their love has survived the five-year gap.

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Tessa Thompson in Sylvie's Love
Tessa Thompson in Sylvie's Love

Right from the get-go, it's evident that Ashe and his team have gone to great lengths to replicate the different time periods Sylvie's Love is set in. From the costuming to the set design to the music playing in each scene, it feels like Ashe has carefully chosen each individual piece with care. Even the way Sylvie's Love looks feels like a classic Hollywood film, a testament to cinematographer Declan Quinn. That attention to detail adds a nice layer to the movie; watching it, one feels transported to a different time. Music, in particular, plays a vital part in Sylvie's Love, and composer Fabrice Lecomte excels at bringing that aspect to life, especially when it comes to the swinging jazz numbers.

Best known as Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thompson brings a determined air to Sylvie that's also appropriately tempered by vulnerability. Sylvie has big dreams and a carefully planned out life, yet her connection with Robert runs the risk of ruining all that. Even when Sylvie makes difficult decisions (such as saying goodbye to Robert after that first summer), Thompson's performance makes it easy to stick with her. Sylvie's journey is perhaps the most compelling part of the film, as she chases her dreams despite all odds. Of course, that is not to say Sylvie and Robert's relationship isn't stirring. Though it hits a lot of familiar beats, their bond is born out of a shared ambition, and Thompson and Asomugha have a sweet, quiet chemistry. Former NFL player Asomugha can be a little stiff at times, but his scenes opposite Thompson give him the best opportunities to blossom. When Robert suffers certain setbacks, Asomugha plays his frustration and disappointment just as well as he conveys his growing feelings for Sylvie, even when he knows he shouldn't give into them.

Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha in Sylvie's Love (1)

As heartwarming as its story is, Ashe's script suffers from a slight pacing issue. To fully explain where the pacing becomes jarring would be to give away spoilers, but it's in Sylvie's Love's final stretch. Compared to what came before, which takes its time with certain matters like the early days of Sylvie and Robert's courtship, the last several plot beats come quickly enough that there's little time to properly process it all. Nevertheless, audiences might not be bothered by this too much, as Sylvie's Love always keeps its heart on its sleeve. Ashe set out to craft a genuine love story, and he certainly succeeded.

Sylvie's Love debuting on Amazon Prime means those spending the holidays at home will have a new heartwarming tale to occupy their time, even if it isn't festive in any major way. With the old-fashioned touches and gentle romance at its center, Sylvie's Love could be just what people are looking for right now. After a year like this one, sometimes all one wants is to enjoy an uncomplicated and sentimental movie. Sylvie's Love fits that bill in a major way, and that's far from a bad thing.

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Sylvie's Love begins streaming on Amazon Prime on December 23. It is 110 minutes long and rated PG-13 for some sexual content and smoking.

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