Rye Lane tells a fairly standard romcom love story, but it’s set in neighborhoods in South London that are alive with color and life and vivid characters. It’s as much about the people around them as it is about the two characters we grow to love.
In Rye Lane, the meet cute is in the unisex bathroom of an art exhibit showing giant portraits of mouths and teeth. The two destined to fall in love are Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah). Both of them have been depressingly obsessed with recent breakups.
Dom and Yas start a conversation about the art work and end up spending a crazy night together roaming the streets of South London and telling each other versions of their stories.
They walk around talking and ignoring everything around them while the colors and people around them are full of variety and life. There’s a fun surprise cameo at a burrito stand, but most of the creativity and diversity swirling around them looks authentic.
Before the night is over the two have pretended to be a couple for Dom’s ex, borrowed a moped and a key to break into the home of Yas’s ex, sung kararoke, been to a barbecue, had a fight and said goodbye.
But, of course, in a romcom, the goodbyes don’t really stick.
David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah are fabulous together. He’s a nerdy unadventurous sort. She’s a fast-talking whirlwind of creativity. Their chemistry is perfect, their comedy timing is spot on. They make this couple as bright and vivid as the life all around them.
Raine Allen-Miller directed this delightful, funny film. I give it high ratings. You can see it on Hulu.