‘My Oxford Year' starts like a clichéd romcom … then breaks your heart

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Corey Mylchreest as Jamie and Sofia Carson as Anna in 'My Oxford Year'.
Image: Chris Baker/Netflix © 2024.
It's hard to resist the allure of a romantic drama. It helps that the leads are often distractingly attractive, and their chemistry is off the charts. Of course, the script plays a crucial role as well.
Common romantic tropes include friends becoming lovers, enemies developing feelings, rekindled past relationships, fake relationships turning real, immediate strong attractions and slow-burn romances.
I've enjoyed everything from historical and modern-day to fantasy and paranormal romances.
However, the ones that tugged at my heart the most were the ones that didn't fit into the happily ever after mould. I'm talking about 'Dying Young', 'Autumn in New York', 'Me Before You', 'The Fault in Our Stars' and 'A Walk to Remember'.
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This brings me to Netflix's 'My Oxford Year', which is inspired by Julia Whelan's novel of the same name.
Directed by Iain Morris and written by Allison Burnett and Melissa Osborne, the film is anchored by Sofia Carson and Corey Mylchreest.
The actress and singer, who recently fronted "My Life List", has a charming and endearing quality.
My curiosity, spurred on by the social media hype, saw me checking out the film. At first, it came across as one of them clichéd offerings that are cute, superficial and lack emotional depth.
Anna De La Vega (Carson) is excited to study Victorian poetry at the University of Oxford. She arrives with a glint in her eye and a book of checklists. This has been a dream of hers. And once she is done, the Queens, New York, resident already has a job lined up. Her parents are super proud of her and her unwavering sense of discipline.
But her plans are thrown a curveball when she crosses paths with Jamie Davenport (Mylchreest) while en route to grab her first fish and chips. His negligent driving leaves her drenched on the sidewalk. She pays him back by ratting him out to an angry ex that he tries to hide from at the shop.
At this point, I tapped out a bit as it seemed like the two were destined to cross paths again and, of course, fall in love or lust, as he ends up being her new lecturer. She is set on disliking him, particularly because of his reputation as a player, but we know how this story goes.
Corey Mylchreest as Jamie in 'My Oxford Year'.
Image: Chris Baker/Netflix ©2024
Unable to fight their attraction, especially after bonding over the best shawarma spot for a late-night meal and exploring the hidden campus library, the two agree to a no-strings-attached arrangement.
However, their casual relationship takes a serious turn when she discovers his genetic cancer diagnosis, the same illness that claimed his brother Eddie's life.
This is where the story truly captured my interest. On the one hand, Anna and Jamie live in the moment - not wanting to waste the time they have together.
On the other hand, his father, William (Dougray Scott), can't deal with losing another son and wants to keep fighting, while his free-spirited mother, Antonia (Catherine McCormack), is more supportive of Jamie's decision to live out his time on his terms.
Amid the overarching story, there's also Anna's quirky friends, who add a comforting dose of humour to relieve the intense drama.
The film delves into themes of family bonds, friendships, romance, and the importance of forgiveness, gratitude, and life's valuable lessons. Also, the location shots are cinematically mesmerising.
I'm not going to lie, the movie caught me off guard and left me bawling my eyes out. It's not as indelible as other movies I've seen, but it does strike a chord.
Rating: *** solid and enjoyable, though not groundbreaking.
Below are romances that will leave you fighting back the tears:
'Me Before You'
This romantic drama, with Thea Sharrock making her directorial debut, is an adaptation of Jojo Moyes' novel of the same name.
It centres on Louisa Clark, who accepts the job of being a caretaker of Will Traynor, a once successful banker and active sportsman, now tetraplegic after being hit by a motorcycle. His cynical attitude clashes is offset by her bubbly personality.
Their bond deepens into love, but his health struggles loom over their relationship. This tearjerker is helmed by Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin.
'Dying Young'
This 1991 release is a classic. Directed by Joel Schumacher and based on Marti Leimbach's novel of the same name, it centres on Hilary O'Neil, a young woman looking to start over after a breakup. As such, she becomes the caregiver of Victor Geddes, an affluent young man with leukaemia.
Over time, their bond deepens into something more despite his fatal illness.
The film stars Julia Roberts, Campbell Scott, Ellen Burstyn and Vincent D'Onofrio.