AFTER WE COLLIDED
US, 2020, 105 minutes, Colour.
Josephine Langford, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Dylan Sprouse, Louise Lombard, Shane Paul Mc Ghie, Candice King.
Directed by Roger Kumble.
The key word is “After�. This is the second instalment of a series featuring the word “after� in the title. And this film presupposes the first film, After, from 2019. The audience can manage the narrative of After We Collided but, certainly, the first film provides a great deal of background.
One of the problems, one of the challenges, is whether we find the central characters and their relationship attractive, or even interesting. He, Hardin, is one of those dark and brooding characters (and, there is a reference to Wuthering Heights). He is sullen, surly, sulky, spiky. He has an instant temper, sometimes physically lashing out. He has an angry, swearing mouth. And, it is worse when he drinks, which he does a lot. He is played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin (member of the British Fiennes acting family). He has been spoiled by his mother to whom he is devoted. And he has angry memories of his father’s relationship with his mother, walking out on the family, marrying again. He has a tenuously positive relationship with his half-brother.
She, Tessa (Josephine Langford who, in fact, hales from Perth) has more potential. While she is committed to her studies, reading, her becoming part of a publishing firm, she is erratic in her behaviour, on-again passionately with Hardin, off-again passionately from Hardin, also prone to drinking and behaving irresponsibly, tauntingly, and then backtracking.
The original books were written for a younger audience, 20 somethings who could identify with the characters and their turmoil. However, it is instructive to have a glance at the bloggers on the IMDb, many of them of the same age as the characters, who really do not identify with them, are critical of their immaturity, nominate the relationship as toxic.
There is some other plotlines in the background, especially with Trevor, a financial wizard who works for the publishing firm, rather nerdy, supportive of Tessa and attracted to her (and gets a needless comic insertion during the final credits). There is also the development of the publishing firm, a party to persuade a millionaire to invest, a visit to the frat house and another party, a visit from Hardin’s mother, his violent confronting of his father after 10 years, a possible reconciliation.
Will the relationship last? Could it last? Actually, there are two more films in the making that will take the series on further: after We Fell and After Ever Happy (and that twisting of the phrase sounds rather ominous!)
