Romantic comedies live and die by their chemistry and sincerity. If you’ve been waiting for a sharply written, hopelessly charming campus comedy that knows exactly what it wants to be, it’s finally here. Backed by Working Title, the absolute titans of British rom-coms (think Notting Hill, Love Actually and Bridget Jones’s Diary) and directed by Alicia MacDonald, Finding Emily easily claims its spot as one of the most delightful cinematic surprises of the year. Think of it as 10 Things I Hate About You meets Easy A for Gen Z, a quick-witted, big-hearted romp that breathes fresh air into the genre while holding tight to the classic tropes we have loved for generations. Finding Emily is an instant rom-com classic.
The premise is a classic setup. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Manchester, the story follow Owen (Spike Fearn), a musician and sound engineer, who spends a magical night talking and dancing with a mysterious girl named Emily (Sadie Soverall). When the phone number she gives him is missing a single digit, Owen embarks on an obsessive quest to track her down among the university’s hundreds of Emilys. Joining him to help track down the real Emily is Emily Raine (Angourie Rice), a deeply cynical American psychology student who sees Owen’s desperate romantic quest as the perfect case study for her thesis on the futility of romantic attachment.
From there, the film escalates into a hilarious campus-wide frenzy. What starts as a simple search forces both characters to confront their own ambitions, performative anxieties, and inevitably, their growing feelings for one another. Spike Fearn brings an endearing softness and awkwardness to Owen that feels incredibly refreshing for a male lead today. But it’s Angourie Rice who entirely runs away with the movie. Rice grounds Emily with a razor-sharp intellect and a guarded exterior that makes their rapid-fire banter sing. Their chemistry is effortless, steering clear of cliché territory thanks to a punchy, authentic script by Rachel Hirons. Throw in a delightfully deadpan performance from Minnie Driver as the exasperated university Dean trying to contain the chaos, and you’ve got an ensemble that just works on every level.
A huge part of why Finding Emily works so well is how it treats its setting visually. The cinematography is beautifully textured, stepping away from the overly polished, artificially lit aesthetic of many modern streaming rom-coms. Manchester itself becomes a central character in the romance. The camera lingers on damp cobblestone streets, dimly lit pubs, chaotic student bars, and the neon-soaked haze of late-night youth. It captures the authentic, slightly gritty reality of university life while still maintaining a warm, inviting glow. The visual language of the film perfectly mirrors the central theme of yearning—framing characters in crowded rooms to emphasise their isolation, or using wide sweeping shots of the city to highlight the daunting task of finding one specific person in a sea of thousands.
Because Owen is a musician, it’s no surprise that the film’s soundtrack is an absolute standout. Manchester has an undeniably rich musical heritage, and the film taps directly into that buzzing local culture. The soundtrack acts as the heartbeat of the movie, blending modern, angsty Gen Z indie anthems with classic British rock influences. It’s the kind of curation you immediately want to find on Spotify after the credits roll. The music isn’t just background noise; it informs Owen’s worldview and bridges the emotional gaps between the characters when words fail them. The live gig scenes are captured with an infectious, pulsing energy that makes you feel like you’re right there in the sticky-floored venue with a pint in hand (make sure you stay for the credits scene!)
Spike Fearn brings a great, endearing awkwardness to Owen, he is not your typical leading man. He is at a point in his life where he doesn’t have any direction, he falls in love hard and fast and currently lives with his brother and his brother’s wife in their family home. Both of their parents have passed away and you can feel the weight of that grief lingering as Owen refuses to move on. While this performance is incredible, it is Angourie Rice who entirely runs away with the movie. Rice grounds Emily with a razor-sharp intellect that makes the rapid-fire banter believable. Their chemistry is effortless, steering clear of cliché territory thanks to a punchy, authentic script that has no issues throwing everying at the screen. Throw in a delightfully deadpan performance from Minnie Driver as the university Dean, and you’ve got an ensemble that just clicks.
What makes Finding Emily so successful is that it doesn’t just rely on nostalgia. Yes, it draws from the DNA of late-90s and 2000s teen classics, but it updates the formula perfectly for today’s hyper-connected university experience. It might follow the rom-com beats you expect, but when the execution is this good, you really don’t mind the familiar melody.
It’s an easy, feel-good watch that proves the British romantic comedy is alive, well, and ready for a new generation.
Finding Emily is screening in Australian theatres from May 21st, 2026.