Rich with talent, this flick is missing that fundamental thing that sets one rom-com apart from the rest; a lasting feeling that what you’re watching matters, or means something.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
The film only feigns at analysis. It’s as naïve about love as Blake herself, who skips through the world like a temperamental child.
It’s a testament to Stone’s sensibilities — and to Barden’s performance — that you want to see these characters stretched out over the course of a 10-episode season, but it’s to the movie’s detriment that they feel so condensed here, various scenes just sloshing into each other without a clear sense of flow.
The New Romantic is the rare film that presents these relationships without judgment offering up the good, bad, painful, and confusing as a matter of fact.
The Hollywood Reporter by Justin Lowe
The New Romantic comes off as too forced and calculated.
Los Angeles Times by Kevin Crust
The New Romantic follows a very familiar arc, but the path is certainly a pleasant one, thanks to Barden’s naturally ebullient performance. Her enthusiasm in the fun parts is infectious, and she holds the camera during the moments of melancholy.
A thin collegiate romance hung on the “sugar babies” concept. You’ve almost certainly heard of this college-coed-seeks-sugar-daddy phenomenon. New Romantic summarizes its appeal and takes the most predictable path to showing our sugar baby the down side.
The New York Times by Teo Bugbee
Mirroring its green protagonist, The New Romantic presents an image of sophistication while playing with ideas that are out of its depth.
RogerEbert.com by Tomris Laffly
A thoughtfully feminist spin on “Pretty Woman,” this film is not.