The plot takes us to a New York airport, where the paths of Hadley (Haley Lu Richardson) and Oliver (Ben Hardy) cross in circumstances that could be considered cliché in any other film: two souls destined to become each other at an airport while waiting for their flights to the UK. The undeniable chemistry between these two protagonists is evident from the first moment, but as is often the case in romantic comedies, they have to part ways when they cross the customs border. Although in real life it is unlikely that two people who have never exchanged numbers will meet again, in this film the fantasy and promise of a happy ending clearly favor the protagonists.
The film, based on the novel of the same name by Jennifer E. Smith, invites us to find out how Hadley, after missing her flight from New York to London, accidentally meets Oliver at the airport and the two are immediately attracted. Although the night passes quickly on the plane, the couple are separated upon landing at Heathrow and reuniting amidst the chaos seems an impossible task. However, love and the city of London seem to have a special way of defying all odds.
The complexity of the film lies in expressing a palpable love even though the protagonists remain at a distance for most of the story. To achieve this, he ingeniously exploits both the literal and metaphorical possibilities of air travel, weaving a poetics of long-distance love that is already embedded in the collective imagination. The narrative is characterized by tenderness, simplicity and emotionality, breaking away from the problems that have marred other films of the genre. One of the most interesting aspects is the intelligent use of narrative as an active resource to advance the plot.
In a genre that often seems saturated with films that follow a predictable formula, The statistical probability of love at first sight The result is a pleasant surprise that offers an authentic experience. While it doesn’t completely revolutionize the romantic comedy genre, it shows that there’s still room for originality and charm in these love stories.
