Title: Tonight, You’re Mine
Director: David Mackenzie
Cast: Luke Treadaway, Natalia Tena, Mathew Baynton, Alastair Mackenzie, Kari Corbett, Sophie Wu and Al Green (Yes, THAT Al Green)
It feels reductive to look down upon romantic comedies. Some say, they’re formulaic, conventional and are overly saccharin. The same can be said of any genre and any bad movie. As put, a bad movie is a bad movie, and by the same token, a good movie is a good movie. “Tonight, You’re Mine” is a good movie. On the surface, it’s a concert movie but underneath it, it’s a romantic comedy, a good one at that. It turns the mundane into interesting and exciting, and the conventional into passionate and thrilling.
The film opens at an outdoor music festival in Scotland with the indie pop duo, Adam (Luke Treadaway) and Tyko (Mathew Baynton), together they form The Make. They’re in a car playing an acoustic rendition of one of their hit songs, “You Instead.” In the background, we see fans excited to see them. This is an interesting way to get into this film. We are mesmerized by the duo’s obvious display of talent. Once they get backstage, a goodhearted, somewhat flirtatious, forceful interaction with a rival band, The Dirty Pinks, quickly turns into romantic comedy convention. Adam and The Dirty Pink’s lead singer Morello (Natalia Tena) is handcuffed together by a mysterious music enthusiast played by singer Al Green. They are now physically forced to spend the whole day together. Later Adam and Morello are confronted by their respective significant others and a grand adventure begins.
“Tonight, You’re Mine” captures the youth culture, recklessness and passion so well that it’s easy to overlook the conventional storyline. We know what’s going to happen between Adam and Morello, but that’s not important. It’s how the come together and why they stay together is what should be taken away from this film. It serves as one part concert movie and one part romantic comedy and more impressively, it balances both genres very well.
There really isn’t a dull moment in this film. Even in its subplots with the other half of The Make, Tyko and the band’s manager, the film manages to find interests and excitement. The only real flaw the film can claim is that it almost loves its characters too much. As much engagement as its subplots hold, it could have served to be a bit shorter rather than giving its side characters, seemingly, their own separate movies.
The biggest takeaway from “Tonight, You’re Mine” is the obvious chemistry between its two leads, Luke Treadaway and Natalia Tena. They’re relationship is electric and palpable and never comes off as obnoxious, which it easily could have been. The film’s two leads are the real reasons to watch this film and the fantastic music is just an added bonus. “Tonight, You’re Mine” captures youth culture so well by displaying drugs, sex and rock n’ roll but gives it so much heart and soul you can make this movie yours.
Technical: B
Acting: C+
Story: B
Overall: B-
by @Rudie_Obias
