GRADE: B+
This beautifully cinematic emotional rollercoaster tells the story of Geraldine Viswanathan (Rita) and Karan Soni (Ravi) as they have their first date during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Set up by their parents for a potential arranged marriage, Karan Soni (Ravi) becomes convinced that his life is to be super structured with every piece of it to be scheduled and predictable. Geraldine Viswanathan (Rita) on the other hand is full of secrets and those secrets come to life as the film progresses.
I think this film weaved the environment during the time of the beginning of the pandemic, the fear it created, and how different people responded to that fear. Forced to shelter in place after what most would assume would be considered a bad date, Ravi and Rita play a game of tennis while learning more about each other and taking from each other those parts of their own lives that they may either be missing or should be rethought.
It’s hard to describe the detailed scenes of the film without giving away its humor, fear, happiness, sadness, relief, learning, and love that went through, but it lends to the question – Does this rom-com end with love or a platonic friendship?