“If you fail to plan, then you are planning to fail.” – Ben Franklin
LOOK BOTH WAYS is a sweet, sugary-coated rom-com take on the movie SLIDING DOORS. Two different outcomes, yet similar, await Natalie (Lili Reinhardt) and her five-year plan.
The writers and editors made the transitions smooth and easy to follow. The viewer could easily see which version of Natalie we were watching. (And it did help to have different hair lengths to complete the transitions.) The movie, however, was shallow and one-dimensional. I enjoyed the concept but needed more layers to peel back and discover. The theme was simple and announced out loud as the final line. This was not necessary since it was blatantly clear throughout the film.
The actors were okay and used a bunch of doe-eyed looks to express their emotions. It worked for the most part. I just needed more. If life hands you lemons, give us more lemonade to fill in the holes. I must ask…where were Gabe’s (Danny Ramirez) parents on his journey? Inquiring minds want to know.
LOOK BOTH WAYS is not earth-shattering nor exciting. It is a gentle, calm stroll through all the “what if” questions along our chosen paths. It could make you think about a possible fork in the road of your own life. I will keep humming the song by Dean Lewis, “It’ll be alright.”
LOOK BOTH WAYS is available to stream on Netflix.
