I Propose We Never See Each Other Again After Tonight (2020)

(On Cable TV, May 2021) The plot summary of I Propose We Never See Each Other Again After Tonight does sound like a mad lib challenge with a Canadian twist: “During a [snowstorm] in [Winnipeg], a young man of [Mennonite] origins and a young woman of [Filipino] origins meet and start a romance that is threatened by [infidelity] and [bad communication].”  So, boom: you have your keywords… now let’s see the script. Romantic comedy is a tricky genre: it has strong conventions that can feel like a straightjacket, but it also offers a strong framework on which to hang memorable characters, witty dialogue, demonstrative set-pieces and a strong feeling of satisfaction when it’s executed well. So how well does writer-director Sean Garrity do? Not too badly, actually. While limited by low-budget production means, he gets mileage out of the Winnipeg location, tries a few things with his script and gets rather good performances out of his leads. The title comes from a first act plot beat in which, after meeting cute, both talk their hearts out over drink having agreed that they would never see each other again. Fate has other plans, however, and before long we’re in more traditional romcom territory with a relationship in the balance. Highlights include a good supporting cast of characters to bring comedy in the first half of the film, then provide some bad advice that somewhat inelegantly fuels much of the film’s second-half drama. The film can also boast of one of the best sex scenes in recent memory — not so much for nudity or eroticism as for moving the plot forward and providing a showcase for the actors, as the characters keep talking and create a few fresh issues for themselves during consummation. Of the two leads, it’s Hera Nalam who walks away having made the strongest impression, but this may be a reflection of a showier role than for Kristian Jordan, who plays things in a more subdued fashion. While having plenty of room for improvement, I Propose We Never See Each Other Again After Tonight does get one thing right, and it’s to create sympathy for both the protagonists and the film itself. It’s an underdog all right, and it’s easy to like.