Movie Review: The One I Love (2014)
Written by Anthony Sargon
If you’re interested in checking out something pretty zany and weird, look no further than Charlie McDowell’s The One I Love. It’s a bizarre yet extremely funny little gem, and the less you know about it going in, the better.
Ethan (Mark Duplass) and Sophie (Elizabeth Moss) have been struggling with married life. They’re on the verge of separating, and decide to salvage their relationship by attending some couples therapy. When their therapist (Ted Danson) sends them on a weekend getaway to a secluded cabin, things get weird. I can’t say any more without spoiling what makes the film so special so unless you’ve already seen the film or don’t mind reading minor spoilers, feel free to skip to the end.
You see, the cabin has a guest house, and when either Ethan or Sophie get into that guest house alone, they unknowingly begin to interact with an alternate, idealized version of their significant other. They have no idea at first, which causes some strife between the two when they notice some behavioral inconsistencies. But as soon as they catch wind of the guest houses’s mysterious powers, their curiosities are piqued.
The film is a lot of fun, and the outlandish concept works thanks to some grounded performances by Mark Duplass and Elizabeth Moss, who are each playing two versions of the same character. The film can be very funny, but the comedy is a tad dark and wry. It often felt like watching a great play with little insight into what was actually happening, except that it doesn’t matter because of how thoroughly entertaining it is. The ending is also fantastic in its vagueness, although I like to think I know what happened.
The Verdict:
The One I Love is a very strange little film that takes full advantage of its excellent premise to deliver a funny and memorable experience. It’s one of the year’s weirder efforts, and you should definitely check it out.
Numerical Score: 8/10
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