All the right ingredients, not enough time in the oven

I feel like I can't judge Geordie Sabbagh too harshly. After all, there's no possibility of mistaking how very indie this production is, with a decidedly modest budget. Moreover, this was his first full-length film as either writer or director, following a couple shorts; some folks come out swinging and hit a home run with their first try, but that's not usually the case. I don't mean to say that this movie is bad - on the contrary, I do enjoy it - but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't troubled. Points in favor of 'A Sunday kind of love' include a fun premise; some smart dialogue and scene writing alongside some fine narrative ideas; and Melanie Scrofano, whose tireless charm and skill is proven to rise above even the most lackluster material. (To illustrate the point, I refer you to boorish 2013 horror-thriller bore 'Nurse,' in which Scrofano's limited time on-screen was possibly the chief highlight.) I also appreciate the emphatically low-key tone of the feature, recalling the subdued, warm, dialogue-heavy, off-the-cuff comedy-dramas of Joe Swanberg ('Happy Christmas,' 'Drinking buddies') or Allen C. Gardner ('Save yourself'). That approach may not sit well with all, but I think it's quite suitable on a case by case basis, and this is one such case.

On the other hand, the repartee in the dialogue is so heavily downplayed that wit, personality, and humor have a hard time shining through. Even Scrofano has a hard time enlivening the proceedings, for as decisively as the most robust flavors are suppressed in Sabbagh's writing and direction. It doesn't help that the sound design is rather imbalanced, with music placed very high in the mix, and dialogue pushed down; the very image quality is weirdly inconsistent, especially where lighting varies from scene to scene. True, one could chalk these technical matters up to the limitations of the resources available for the movie. The same can't be said of the acting of lead Dylan Taylor; I don't know if his performance here is a reflection of Sabbagh's direction, the tenor of his character in particular, a difficulty with commanding a starring role specifically or some insufficiency with his acting generally, or some other factor or combination thereof. Whatever the case may be, it rather seems to me as though Taylor is kind of struggling to align with "Adam," to find his voice and sell the part. I trust that Taylor may prove his capability elsewhere, given the chance; in this, unfortunately, it was just not so.

In addition to any cleverness being cut down, it must also be accentuated that 'A Sunday kind of love' gives us no few moments, especially the climax and ending, that are primed for significant emotional weight and investment. It feels like the picture gets so, so close to achieving that goal (largely thanks to Scrofano, in my opinion), to the point that we can just see it and almost reach out and touch it. And then it's gone. The heart that this should possess powers up, but never hits 100% before the engine breaks down. And that, sadly, tends to speak to the experience of this film as a whole. I do like it, and I see what it tried to do; I think it was nearly there. But whether one wishes to blame deficiency in the acting, technical craft, or writing or direction, what it really comes down to is that this is missing an injection of vitality, some little light to feed a flame and see us through. All the right ingredients are here, I believe, but they are undercooked.

I admire the effort. I look forward to seeing more from Sabbagh (and Taylor) in the future, and surely seeing the growth of their skills as filmmaker and actor. I remain all in for anything Scrofano wants to do. Regrettably, 'A Sunday kind of love' just can't hit the right notes, and it doesn't make much of an impression.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The romance genre features the theme of romantic relationships and emotional connections between characters. These stories focus on the development of love, desire, and intimacy between protagonists, often exploring the challenges, conflicts, and triumphs that arise in their relationships.

Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)

A struggling writer meets death and falls in love. He must decide if his true love is in this world or the next, and if his dreams of success are worth dying for.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Jonas Chernick and Emily Hampshire in The End of Sex (2022)

Peter Mooney and Emilie Ullerup in Retreat to You (2023)

Merritt Patterson and Jack Turner in Forever in My Heart (2019)

Christine Neubauer and Erol Sander in Alle Sehnsucht dieser Erde (2009)

Entscheidung im Eis - Eine Frau jagt den Mörder

Lucas Till and Merritt Patterson in Wolves (2014)

Dylan Taylor and Meghan Heffern star in A Sunday Kind of Love

Meghan Heffern stars in A Sunday Kind of Love

Melanie Scrofano and Dylan Taylor star in A Sunday Kind of Love

Melanie Scrofano stars in A Sunday Kind of Love

A Sunday Kind of Love

Videos1

Photos6

Top Cast10

User reviews3

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed