With all of this said, some movie adaptations are awful and some can be quite good. Again, look at the Harry Potter series for an example of success. Where One Day falls on this scale would have to be on the good side, though like I said above, it's not as good as the book; which yes I have read as well. One Day is based on the book of the same name by David Nicholls, who also wrote the screenplay, which I believe is big part of why it was adapted well. Now this is a love story through and through, but what makes this stand out against other ones is its completely original way in which it is told.
In One Day, Dexter Mayhew, played by Jim Sturgess (21, Across the Universe), and Emma Morley, played by Anne Hathaway (Love and Other Drugs), meet on July 15th, 1988 after their graduation from university. They spend the night together, but nothing really happens between them and thus they decide it'd be better off if they just be friends. From this point on, the only time and interaction we see of the two is what happens on that "one day," July 15th, of every year. From this unique perspective the audience is taken through these two peoples' lives as they go through many of the hardships many people face in their own lives. Figuring out their careers, relationships, and just straight evolving as a person. All the while doing this trying to remain friends with someone as distance, people, and each other stand in the way.
Jim Sturgess does a great job at playing Dexter as he's able to portray and transition the character from his 20s to his 40s. From the smug, cocky, self obsessed, hard partying young man all the way into a more reserved, humbler, middle aged guy with flashes of his younger self. Anne Hathaway was an interesting choice for Emma, since one she isn't British, but I think she does a decent enough job with her accent that I for one was able to forget that fact. Plus, she herself does a great job with Emma's character as she goes from a nerdy, bookworm, harsh self critic when she's younger to an ambitious, more forgiving and accepting, yet still bookworm type adult.
The great thing about the way this story is told, for a movie's perspective, is how you're able to tell the two character's whole life stories together in such a shortened period of time. Though David Nicholls is forced to cut a lot of detail of the two characters' lives and interaction between them, he is still able to keep much of the key components of the story without affecting too much. Though this is where people who have read the book will have an issue with the movie. The forced cuts do affect getting a better, fuller understanding of the complex relationship between Dexter and Emma and how their relationship with each other affects their relationships with other people. But again, this is just something the freedom of a book allows you to do.
However, this is something that may be not noticed at all by viewers who haven't read the book and are enjoying this story for the first time. And in either case, the story is quite good outside of just the way its told. There's a few plot twists that are quite unexpected and will most likely surprise first time viewers.
Overall, I have to give this movie a thumbs up and 2 1/2 out of 4 stars. It's close to three and I really did enjoy it. But for me, the fact I read the book already did knock it down just a little bit. I do believe many will enjoy this movie either way, and will be happy with its outcome even if they have read the book. This movie is available now on DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as at your local Redbox. Enjoy!
Editor's Note: The next movie I will be reviewing will be Friends With Benefits starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake
