Review: ‘Oh, Hi!' is a movie that has no business working, but somehow it does
But 'Oh, Hi!' is that rare case, a movie that's engaging and interesting moment by moment, but everything else is wrong with it. Writer-director Sophie Brooks locks into a narrative that's unpleasant and far-fetched and that forces the characters to behave in ways that make no sense. And Brooks concludes the movie as if in search of the least dramatic ending she could devise.
What holds it all together is Molly Gordon, who stars in the film and co-wrote the story with Brooks. She plays a young woman, Iris, who goes away for the weekend with her boyfriend, Isaac (Logan Lerman). They have been dating for four months, and this weekend represents a milestone – their first time away together and an opportunity to get closer.
The first 20 minutes of 'Oh, Hi!' are the best, which is odd, because next to nothing happens. The movie begins with them driving down the road, stopping to buy strawberries. Then they get to the house that they're renting, have sex, go swimming, and have sex again. At this stage, the movie provides nothing but the pleasant spectacle of two people getting along.
Yet if you pay close attention, you might detect some points of potential conflict. Very subtly, Brooks and her actors are able to hint that, while Iris is wholeheartedly keen on Isaac, Isaac may have some reservations about Iris. Though he can be effusive and demonstrative, he can also be, at times, guarded, as if reserving judgment or concealing his thoughts.
This comes to a head when, at the worst possible time, he tells Iris that he is seeing other women and doesn't want to be in an exclusive relationship. Her reaction is extreme — don't read any other reviews if you don't want to know how extreme — and the rest of the movie is about the consequences of that response.
The film hinges on Gordon's ability, not to be sympathetic, but engaging and fun to watch. Over the years, I've noticed that the best emerging stars are often people who already seem familiar the first time you see them. Gordon is like that — familiar, while also being likable, refreshingly self-mocking and comedically inventive.
Easily, the character of Iris could have been played as a flat-out wackjob, and the film could have descended into horror-movie territory, but Gordon, without softening Iris' bizarre behavior, sets a light tone.
In the end, 'Oh, Hi!' can almost seem like a meaningless exercise, because the points Brooks seems to be making — about the difficulties of establishing intimacy and the obstacles in the way of commitment — are fairly banal. That these difficulties are especially pronounced for millennials and Generation Z folks helps Brooks somewhat, but the movie glances off these issues in such a superficial way that it's hard to feel that anything important is being said.
Yet sometimes things are best said without words. There's something about the way in which Gordon plays Iris — with her insecurity and neediness living alongside her wit, good humor, vivacity and intelligence — that speaks louder than the screenplay. Gordon makes you think, wow, if someone of such obvious appeal is coming unglued, maybe times are tough all over.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
5 hours ago
- UPI
Molly Gordon: 'Oh, Hi!' inspired by real heartbreak
1 of 5 | Molly Gordon, seen at the "Oh, Hi!" screening July 8 in Los Angeles, stars in the film. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo July 22 (UPI) -- Molly Gordon says her new dark romantic comedy Oh, Hi!, in theaters Friday, was inspired by real heartbreaks she and writer/director Sophie Brooks experienced. Gordon, 29, plays Iris, a woman who goes away for the weekend with her beau Isaac (Logan Lerman). When Isaac shares he's not interested in being exclusive, Iris leaves him handcuffed to the bed and attempts to convince him they should be a couple. In a recent Zoom interview wtih UPI, Gordon, who shares "story by" credit with Brooks, discussed some of the relationship turmoil that helped inspire the film. "We both were with men that were wonderful but didn't want to have this last closure conversation with us," Gordon said. "So we both were like oh, what if we had forced them to have it? That's how this was born." The misunderstanding about the nature of their relationship stems from both Isaac and Iris not speaking directly. Isaac doesn't want to be considered a jerk and Iris doesn't want to be seen as needy. "I think that we're all so scared of rejection and actually showing our true selves to people that women can sometimes only hear what they want to hear," she said. "And then men cannot be fully honest that they're not interested in somebody just because they don't want to hurt their feelings. I think that's not even gendered." The situation is exacerbated when Iris phones her mother, who encourages her to try to make it work. Then Iris goes down an internet rabbit hole of a relationship podcaster giving women advice on how to keep a man. "We all look on our phones and go, 'I can do this and I can do this and I can change this and I can do this,'" Gordon said. "But if you really sat with yourself, why would you want to force someone to be with you and change something about yourself?" While Gordon would never resort to trapping a romantic partner, she empathized with Iris succumbing to the temptation. "We're not trying to finger wag in this movie," Gordon said. "Sophie and I struggle with this on a daily basis and finding our own inner confidence." While there is a scary version of this concept, like Stephen King's Misery and Gerald's Game, Gordon said she and Brooks resisted suggestions to ramp up the intensity of Oh, Hi! "We got notes in the beginning, like she should murder him or she should do what Kathy Bates does in Misery," Gordon said. "We weren't interested in making a horror film, but we definitely wanted to play with drama and tone because sometimes when you're in a fight with someone, you do feel like you're in a horror movie." Gordon credits Brooks with keeping her from going too unhinged in her performance as Iris, though she has a few intense moments on screen. "Sophie had to reel me in constantly because I haven't gotten the chance to really show this side of myself as an actor," Gordon said. "I was just so ready to throw down and she was like, 'Okay, Molly, we are giving Kathy Bates in Misery. Let's pull it back a little bit.' There were some maniacal laughs on the cutting room floor for sure." The maniacal laughs got cut, but Iris does perform a talent show dance for Isaac. Gordon said intimacy coordinator Shelby Terrell did double duty as choreographer. "What can't she do?" Gordon said. Gordon also recently reprised her role of Claire in The Bear Season 4. One episode saw chef Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) seek to make amends for breaking up with Claire while he was locked in a refrigerator, leading Gordon to give Carmy credit for eventually getting to the apology. "He does say, 'I'm sorry. I'm so [expletive] sorry' at the end, so I'm going to give Carmy a little justice," Gordon said. "Why it took him a five minute screen conversation to say that, that's his own journey." Gordon previously shared writing and directing credits on Theater Camp, which she developed with Ben Platt, Noah Galvin and Nick Lieberman. She said Oh, Hi! was Brooks' idea. She began helping Brooks as a friend, which evolved into the professional collaboration. "She had the idea: man and woman go on first trip together, he doesn't want to be in a relationship, she holds him hostage," Gordon said. "She had never written for an actor specifically so I would give her notes towards what I was also looking for as an actress." The script was originally written to take place in Ojai, Calif., but had to move to High Falls, N.Y., to stay in budget. Still, the title doubled for the setting and the honeymoon phase of a new relationship. "At the beginning of a relationship, you just look at each other and you're like, 'Hi, hi, hi, hi,'" Gordon said. "Then you start living in silence with your partner." Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman attend special screening of 'Oh, Hi!' Cast members Molly Gordon (L) and Logan Lerman attend the special screening of their film "Oh, Hi!" in Los Angeles on July 8, 2025. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Hypebeast
a day ago
- Hypebeast
adidas Megaride S2 Launches in Two New Colorways
Name:adidas Megaride S2Colorway:Core Black/Hi-Res Blue/Purple, Off White/Core Black/Matte SilverSKU:JR5743, JR0902MSRP:$160 USDRelease Date:July 21Where to Buy:adidas adidasjust relaunched a gem from its early-2000s archive with the reintroduction of theMegaride S2, a sneaker that blends performance-engineered cushioning with fashion-forward design. Reimagined with a modern twist, the silhouette revives the brand's original Adiprene cushion technology, once praised for its bounce-driven energy return, and repositions it for today's retro-sportwear revival and 'footballcore' wave. The Megaride S2 makes a bold impression from the start. A breathable mesh base layer sits underneath a molded rubber cage, which wraps the entire upper for both structure and standout aesthetics. Adding a futuristic edge, the sneaker includes a zip-up shroud that conceals the traditional lacing system — nodding to early 2000s performance design while doubling down on lifestyle appeal. Below, the signature Megaride half-unit midsole in the heel delivers cushioning and responsiveness, with a rubber outsole built for all-day traction and streetwear endurance. Depending on the model, subtle patent leather accents on the tongue and heel tab offer a sleek, glossy finish. Two initial colorways headline the re-release of the adidas Megaride S2. One standout pair arrives in a bold pink-to-purple gradient mesh encased in a glossy black net — a visual tribute to rave-era athletics and futuristic nostalgia. Meanwhile, the white pair takes a more understated approach, featuring an off white upper layered with subtle tonal variations. A metallic silver midsole anchors the design, adding a sleek finish that pulls the entire look together , allowing the sneaker's sculptural silhouette and material contrasts to take center stage. Both pairs retain adidas's performance DNA, seen in the overlasting forefoot construction and high-traction sole pattern, while inviting fashion-driven audiences to embrace the technical archive through a modern lens. The adidas Megaride S2 is available now for $160 USD, with a special-editionJAH JAHx adidas Megaride S2—first unveiled duringParis Fashion Week— also rumored for a Spring 2026 launch, hinting at a broader collaborative future for the silhouette.
CNN
a day ago
- CNN
‘Quiet relationships,' ‘soft launches' and the rest of Gen Z's new love language
When someone scrolls through Val's Instagram page, they can see a recent camping trip she took with friends, a batch of homemade chicken nuggets and a few of her favorite memes. But what they can't see: Val, 22, got engaged nine months ago to her boyfriend of two years. She never made a post about the proposal — and she doesn't plan to. 'We are happy and content as we are, living our lives together privately … no outsiders peering in through the windows, so to speak,' said Val, who lives with her fiancé in San Marcos, Texas, and asked CNN not to use her last name for privacy reasons. Val is one of a growing number of young adults from Generation Z, the cohort from age 28 down to teenagers, who are opting for 'quiet relationships,' in which their love lives — the good and the bad —remain offline and out of view from a larger audience of friends and family. It's a new turn back to the old way of doing things: date nights without selfies, small weddings without public photo galleries and conflict without a procession of passive-aggressive posts. On platforms such as TikTok, creators declaring this preference for 'quiet' or 'private' relationships rake in thousands of views, and on Pinterest, searches for 'city hall elopement' surged over 190% from 2023 to 2024. If your prefrontal cortex developed before the iPhone came along, you may be rolling your eyes. But for a generation raised on social media, rejecting the pressure to post is a novel development — and one that experts say could redefine the future of intimacy. Gen Z's turn toward privacy partly stems from a growing discomfort with how social media shapes — and distorts — romantic relationships, said Rae Weiss, a Gen Z dating coach studying for her master's degree in psychology at Columbia University in New York City. A couple that appears to be #relationshipgoals may flaunt their luxury vacations together, picture-perfect date nights, matching outfits and grand romantic gestures. But Gen Z has been online long enough to know it's all just a carefully curated ruse. 'It's no longer a secret that on social media, you're only posting the best moments of your life, the best angles, the best pictures, the filters,' Weiss said. 'Young people are becoming more aware that it can create some level of dissonance and insecurity when your relationship doesn't look like that all the time.' Indeed, there are messy, complicated and outright mundane moments to every relationship — but those aren't algorithmically climbing the ranks (unless the tea is piping hot, of course.) This can lead some to equate the value of their relationships with how 'Instagrammable' they are, Weiss said. Frequently broadcasting your relationship on social media has even been linked to lower levels of overall satisfaction and an anxious attachment style between partners, according to a 2023 study. Embracing private relationships, then, is partly Gen Z's way of rejecting the suffocating pressures of perfection and returning to the value of real-life displays of affection. 'There's less incentive to 'keep up' with others' posts,' said Dr. Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center and professor emerita of media psychology at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California. 'This can protect against relationship envy or distorted expectations, comparing the relationship to others' public presentations.' While Val said she has certainly felt the pressure to show off her love life in the past, she ultimately thinks a digital shrine to her fiancé would feel too false. 'It feels like I'm trying to prove something, to prove that we love each other, when the proof is all around us: our cats, our home and life that we've built together,' Val said. 'He doesn't need to see me posting about him to know that I love him.' Jason Basnyat, 21, who has been seeing his current girlfriend for nearly a year but isn't posting any photos of the two of them together, admits the main reason he's not oversharing is to avoid putting his relationship through the same scrutiny his friends apply to other couples. 'I don't like the thought of being perceived and talked about,' said Basnyat, a student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. 'I've even stopped talking to a lot of my friends about (relationships) because I found that they'll start to see your partner differently.' For Basnyat, his reluctance to share about his love life is not so much a fear of being publicly shamed or bullied, but the imagined group chat discussions, private direct messages and Instagram investigations he may be subjected to. Social anxiety is nothing new, but for a generation raised online, a new form of it has become endemic to our way of relating to one another, said Brooke Duffy, an associate professor of communication at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. 'Imagined surveillance,' as she calls it, is the feeling that your every move is being watched and scrutinized by an ambiguous audience, and she said it's a product of how social media has normalized voyeurism. 'To broadcast your relationship means to open it up to a public audience and have people trawl through images and dissect the communication,' Duffy said of her research. 'Of course, influencers are under a high-powered microscope, but we found this was an organizing principle for how young people create content online.' The fear is that others aren't just looking at your relationship — they are staring at it, digging into it, and passing moral judgments on you and your partner. All of that noise, real or imagined, can cloud your own appraisal of the person you're with, especially early on in a relationship, said 26-year-old Jillian St. Onge. 'I refrained from sharing my relationship with my followers for a while, and also from my family truthfully,' said St. Onge, who lives in New York and is now engaged to her partner. 'Heartbreak is hard enough on its own, so when everybody knows everything too early, you feel like you owe others, even random people, an explanation as to what went awry. … Being intentionally private allowed me to form opinions for myself and really focus on building a deep connection.' The days of posting moody, vague jabs at your partner during a period of conflict are over, St. Onge said. While it can feel vindicating to rally an audience around your perspective, the move is shortsighted and often stokes more drama than it's worth, she said. But despite being highly aware of their own surveillance, members of Gen Z still manage to invent new ways of indulging the desire to share. 'Soft-launching,' for example, is one way someone can share the fact that they are in a relationship without giving away the identity of their partner, Duffy said. Pinterest is flooded with soft-launch ideas: two plates on the dinner table, two silhouettes cast against a blank wall, two pairs of shoes sitting next to one another. For St. Onge, who regularly posts videos of her day-to-day life, a soft launch on her socials after about five months of dating her now-fiancé was exactly the level of privacy she needed. Basnyat also makes a distinction between what goes on the 'grid,' where photos are permanent until deleted, and on the 'story,' where posts disappear within 24 hours. 'A story doesn't have to have the same communicative impact as something that's on your grid,' Duffy explained. 'It captures a fleeting moment, and I think because of that, people are more willing to step outside the boundaries of their personal profile or brand.' From an outsider's perspective, privacy and secrecy can look the same, said Lia Huynh, a licensed marriage and family therapist based in San Jose, California. 'However, the motive is different,' Huynh said in an email. 'Privacy aims to protect, to be cautious and careful. Someone who wants privacy doesn't want the relationship to be hidden, but feels it is necessary to protect the relationship.' Secrecy, on the other hand, comes at the expense of the other person, and often has a more selfish motive such as feelings of shame or embarrassment, Huynh said. So how can couples tell the difference? First, Huynh recommends private partners identify their own motives. 'It's important for the person who wants privacy to make sure they communicate that they are not ashamed of their partner, nor are they doing it to keep their options open,' Huynh said. 'Make sure you both agree on what this looks like.' Weiss said communication can be tricky when dealing with a mismatch of expectations, in which one partner values the input of their wider social circle more than the other does. It's also important to have at least one or two people outside the relationship you feel comfortable talking to when you just need to vent or if the conflict becomes too difficult to manage on your own, Weiss said. 'I always say listen to your gut. … It comes down to identifying values. Whatever the relationship struggle you're experiencing is, ask how (you can) come up with solutions in a way that aligns with your values,' Weiss said. Overall, to Rutledge, who has studied social media since its inception, the 'quiet relationship' is a wholly positive turn for how young people conduct their personal lives. 'We've seen more young people opting for digital detoxes, living in the moment,' Rutledge said. 'It's not necessary, but it can be very revealing. Anything that encourages people to be more (intentional) with their use of social media, rather than passive, is a good sign.' EDITOR'S NOTE: Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
