Joey Magidson
Living in the past, to one degree or another, is a common occurrence. Especially when it comes to grief, it can be a twisty road. Now, to take that already inherently cinematic situation and mix in actual time travel, well, that just makes for a meaty dish. There are a lot of ways that The Greatest Hits could have fallen flat, just like there are a few ways in which it could have been a masterpiece. What we have is a solid film that hints at greatness, while frustrating at other points. At the end of the day, however, the good does come out on top.
The Greatest Hits is a movie more or less made for me. So, while I only like it instead of love it, I do still see exactly how it can land hard for some. There are tricky emotions at play, up and coming young performers, a high concept, and a great soundtrack. What’s not to like? Consider my polite response as opposed to a rave just my working over of why this is simply good instead of great, but remember…it’s still certainly good.
Harriet (Lucy Boynton) has been struggling for the past two years, grieving the sudden accidental death of her boyfriend Max (David Corenswet). Compounding matters, she can travel back in time. Yes, whenever she hears music that played during their relationship, she’s transported back to that moment. So, she tries to avoid songs at all costs, wearing headphones throughout the day and generally avoiding most people besides a grief counselor (Retta) and her best friend (Austin Crute). She’s having a rough time of it, to say the least, hoping to find a way to save Max in the past, while being unable to function in the present.
When Harriet meets David (Justin H. Min) at the grief group, they have an instant connection. Of course, how can she even consider a relationship with what she has going on? That forms the crux of the film, as she balances her interest in David with these vivid times had with Max. How it resolves, and where it goes, I won’t say, but there’s a poignancy on display, as well as a maturity, that will linger with you.
Lucy Boynton has a tough assignment on her hands and handles it with aplomb. She has to turn on a dime whenever the songs interfere in the present, and while the moviemaking helps, she’s doing a lot. I was very impressed with her performance. I wish David Corenswet had a bit more to do, but as a memory, he does function well. Justin H. Min, on the other hand, continues to prove he’s a very exciting actor, lending an awkward charm to another complicated role. Austin Crute and Retta are fine in small roles, while supporting players include Andie Ju, Jenne Kang, Tom Yi, and others.
Filmmaker Ned Benson writes and directs this with a definite sense of style. A decade after The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (Her, Him, and Them), he finally returns behind the camera, directing this with a focus on the emotions. If his screenplay doesn’t get too wild with the time travel aspects or rules, he has a better handle on the emotional state of everything. His central question is poignant, he doesn’t forget to have some light humor, and he finds an ending that leaves you wanting to talk about it. I truly hope it’s not another decade before Benson directs again.
The Greatest Hits has occasionally awkward pacing and some narrative bumps in the road, but the emotions are all there. If you’re looking for a romantic dramedy with a bit of a high concept arc to it, this is definitely something to check out, either in theaters this weekend or next week when it drops on Hulu.
SCORE: ★★★
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