That’s Amor Review: A Typical Rom-Com with New Morals
Growing up in the 90s’, I was subject to hundreds of different rom-coms from While You Were Sleeping to 10 Things I Hate About You. While each one had its own spin on the genre, the basic plot was always the same. Fast Forward to 2022, and things haven’t changed much — That’s Amor hits all the right notes but does very little to set itself apart from the rest of the herd.
As That’s Amor begins, we are introduced to Sofia, who is having a hell of a day. It is the day before her birthday and everything is coming to a head in the worst way possible. Seriously, it’s like a ripe pimple ready to explode on high school picture day.
She loses her job, boyfriend, and basic mobility all within minutes of each other. While the scenario is a little extreme, it goes a long way in connecting us to her character.
No matter what you’ve been through in life, it’s hard not to see parts of yourself in Sofia. We’ve all sat idle letting life happen to us instead of the other way around. While there is a lot to be said for someone who rolls with the punches, it is rare if they get to exactly where they want to be.
That is how Sofia ends up sleeping in her mother’s guest bedroom in a constant funk. Who can blame her? Life certainly hasn’t taken the positive turn she has hoped for.
Luckily, Sofia’s mother, Lainie, decides her time of mourning must end. We need people like this in our lives, loved ones with patience and the fortitude to drag us kicking and screaming from the rubble of our lives. Lainie knows it is time for her daughter to move on, but she allows her to do so in baby steps.
Lainie’s Zumba class is the perfect way for Sofia to stretch her wings and learn to fly again. Unfortunately, Sofia’s lack of participation makes her mother’s efforts fall flat. I can’t count the number of times I’ve missed out on the fun because I was too busy sulking — if only I embraced the moment, some of my tears would have never fallen.
Unwilling to give up, Lainie discovers a cooking class for couples that is nearby. While mother and daughter combos aren’t exactly on the menu, it doesn’t stop them from attending. Heck, it’s 2022, and rules are made for being broken.
Cue the awkward introduction of Matias.
No romantic comedy is complete without the two main characters knocking heads when they first meet. Their initial meeting isn’t as classic as some other movies in the genre, but their chemistry is undeniable. Even if you aren’t a big fan of the paint-by-numbers situation, you can’t help but root for the couple straight out of the gate.
Of course, Matias isn’t just some random stranger on the street, he is also the cooking teacher’s assistant. What a lovely coincidence! I truly didn’t see that coming — wink wink.
Throughout the next twenty minutes or so, Matias and Sofia proceed to run into each other and are constantly reminded of the spark they felt when they first met. The banter between the two is fun but forgettable. It makes you smile, but you won’t be quoting the dialog after the credits roll.
As their relationship begins to take root, complications arise.
Complications are the spice of life. If every situation we ever entered in life was cut and dry, we would never learn to adapt. Adapting is crucial to survival.
Surprisingly, these complications are brought out into the open fairly early on. Matias has someone else back home, and Sofia’s breakup still weighs heavily on her heart. Love is rarely convenient and seldom shows up when expected.
With everything out on the table, the two proceed with caution not knowing exactly where this romance is headed. After all, Matias is going back to Spain in a few weeks. From California to Spain is one hell of a commute, spelling disaster for even the most committed of relationships.
Matias: You have to be sweet to yourself too.
During one of their heartfelt conversations, Matias points out to Sofia that everything she does she considers work. Graphic design and cooking all fall under the umbrella of work to her, and that could be one thing that is draining the fun out of life for her.
This brings about the moral of the story.
Most rom-coms promote the idea of love never failing or refusing to give up on your partner. These, of course, are wonderful themes to push forward, even if they are stated time and time again. But That’s Amor goes a different route.
In our relationships, whether romantic or platonic, we tend to be sweet to the other person. We give them gifts, snuggles, and nearly whatever they want to keep them happy. Sadly, we often leave ourselves out of the equation.
Why do we forget to be sweet to ourselves?
When we talk to others around us we are cordial and kind, but when we are alone, we often talk bad to ourselves. A simple mistake becomes a reason to beat ourselves up — destroying our self-esteem and ultimately ruining our day.
It doesn’t need to be this way!
Matias understands this and shares his knowledge with Sofia. It allows her to look at life differently than she has in the past and seems to give her a new lease on life.
Soon after, Sofia decides to go back to school and put herself first for once in her life. She still has the fear of failure, but she does her best to put it on the back burner.
If not paying closer attention, one can argue she does this all in the name of love and her budding relationship, but I disagree. Adopting new philosophies will get you farther in life than simply following your emotions and hormones.
Towards the end of the movie, everything falls back into the typical fare with a short breakup and reconciliation. While it makes your heart swell to a degree, your eyes roll right along with it.
In less than a week or so, a majority of the plot points will be forgotten. In two months you will probably accidentally rewatch the movie because you are unsure if you ever watched it in the first place.
Overall, That’s Amor is better than the average Hallmark movie but not by leaps and bounds. The actors do their part and bring home a paycheck, but that is about it. No one stands out above anyone else, and most of the characters are forgettable at best.
If the only thing on television for the night is a rerun of Survivor, then by all means give this movie a try. But if you can find another way to be sweet to yourself, then choose the latter.
What did you think of That’s Amor? Did Sofia and Matias earn their happy ending? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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That’s Amore is currently streaming on Netflix.
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Charles E Henning
Charles E. Henning lives in a quaint town of Illinois with his ever-loving wife since 1998. He is new to writing reviews, but has over thirty years of fictitious writing for his own personal fulfillment. His interests range from science fiction to character-based dramas, but he is a sucker for anyone in a cape.