Good concept, and good performance from Mirza, but a bit too OTT for too long to really be great

Not being a great aficionado of Twitter, I did not know what the title meant when I saw it, but it is apparently when someone communicates something with good intentions, but the receiver of the information takes it the wrong way resulting in unfortunate circumstances for them. Or, to put it another way – modern communication. In terms of the film this is what happens when Marie's fiancé decides she needs some space and heads off to a yoga retreat for the weekend. Unfortunately part of the message gets lost, and Marie is convinced she has been dumped without so much as a goodbye. When friend Jesse comes round, Marie is frenzied and reading a lot into previously innocent online messages and posts – a narrative that Jesse is fine for her to continue.

If you ignore that the starting point of this story is a misplaced Post-It note, there is actually a pretty decent idea here about the overload of information, and the off-the-cuff brevity of it. With on-screen displays of text messages, and a heavy focus on technology, we see an issue get blown out of proportion by virtue of Marie reading far too much into the absence of the full information. In this way the film is pretty relevant and also reasonably well done, as we see Marie spinning out of control – reacting to things that haven't happened, having half arguments in the absence of her partner. This aspect is well done, partly because the on screen delivery and pace of it is good, but mainly because the film gets a convincing performance from Mirza. She does convince as someone driving herself crazy with things that probably aren't what she is reading them to be – and when she is doing that, the film works well. 

What works less well is that the narrative tends towards the OTT; it starts in a small way but quickly becomes excessive in tone and style. There are many examples of this, but the clearest one is the performance from Caster; her character and her performance are over the top – I guess this is partly the point since it is why the partner dislikes this relationship, but she is far too clichéd and forced as a presence in the film. As a whole it still worked pretty well, and has the energy to keep things moving while Mirza provides a believable base – but Caster and her character are examples of the film not reeling it in, and pushing everything at top speed, hurting the detail in the process.

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

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 mystery genre features the investigation and solving of a puzzle, typically a crime or an enigmatic event. Mysteries are known for their suspenseful narratives, intricate plots, and the challenge they present to readers or viewers to piece together clues and solve the central mystery alongside the characters.

Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

A neurotic journalist searches through digital clues trying to decipher a mysterious message left by her fiancée right before she disappeared for the next 48 sleepless hours.

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

See who dazzled on the red carpet and took home gold at the 78th Primetime Creative Emmy Awards.

Sugarhiccup

Photos

Top Cast2

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Box office

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed