"Oh, Hi!", San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
4186 Piedmont Ave, Oakland
July 23, 2025
Do you ever revisit old romcoms of decades past and think, “If there wasn't cute music and humor infused into these scenes, it would make a great stalker/horror/thriller film?” Writer-director Sophie Brooks’ new work Oh, Hi! takes the implausible and far-fetched container of the romantic comedy to the next level. On this film, she is working with the trope of “forced proximity” and yes, it is forced. Characters act in increasingly unhinged and unpredictable ways. I actually found myself shaking my head at some of the characters' insane choices; a few actions appeared to be made only to push a limping plot along. However, the cast is talented and in sync with one another, making the film enjoyable rather than disastrous.
Iris (Molly Gordon) and Isaac (Logan Lerman) drive upstate for a romantic weekend getaway, singing along to Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ Islands in the Stream, appearing for all the world like a couple in love. For the first 20 minutes, it is pretty dreamy. The weekend rental is spacious and inviting. A lot of kissing and sexy times ensue. Scallops are cooked by Isaac and eaten under the romantic glow of string lights. We realize that Isaac and Iris are actually a new couple getting to know one another, and while Iris is open, Isaac remains cagey with what he is willing to share. After much hedging, we learn that Isaac's heart has been broken by his cheating father. Iris had her heart broken by her ex, who she fantasized stabbing. A revelation that the visibly uncomfotable Isaac, assures her he is fine with.
With this, the story goes a bit dark. The couple gets kinky with some toys they found in a locked (until Iris picks it) closet, and Iris muses that their four-month anniversary as a couple has been a complete success. Isaac goes pale; they are definitely not a couple and definitely not exclusive. Unfortunately for him, he is not in a position of power or physical autonomy, so an increasingly unhinged Iris decides that her only choice of action is to “make” Isaac love her.
With each failed attempt, the manic light in Iris’ eyes grows brighter until she is forced to admit defeat. She does what any reasonable woman would do in a ridiculous situation; she calls her best friend. What would a romcom be without the ride-or-die best friend? The floundering story gets a glow up in the form of Max (incredibly done by Geraldine Viswanathan) and her boyfriend Kenny (John Reynolds), as the three friends bumble around trying to fix a problem that gets continuously and comedically exacerbated by each new and completely unlikely idea.
That this story actually comes off as truly comedic and enjoyable is completely down to the tremendous talent of the cast: It is a mild criticism on today's dating landscape in a film that takes an overly long time getting to the point. The chemistry between all four players keeps you laughing, and Gordon, who shows immense talent as an actress, leads us through her unhinged tale in a way that has us rooting for her to the very last despite questionable choices. By the finish of Oh, Hi!, the characters are completely exhausted, but despite the kink and rating for sex, the ending is hardly satisfying or happy.
