Netflixreleased a new romantic comedy in August,Look Both Ways, directed by Wanuri Kahiu (Rafiki) from a script by April Prosser.Look Both Waysisa feel-good’what if' type of narrative. The streaming service appears to be betting on romantic comedy originals lately, and this one has been paying off. While it is a rom-com, the movie tackles many current problems that most people face, such as anxiety about the future, regret, and even FOMO (slang for Fear of Missing Out).
A Netflix version of the Krzysztof Kieślowski’s 1987 filmBlind Chance(which itself was remade in 1998 asSliding Doors), Look Both Waysfollows Natalie (Lili Reinhart) in a decisive moment in her life as she takes a pregnancy test. Natalie is a 22-year-old who loves animation and has created a five-year plan that she strictly follows, but needless to say, being pregnant was not in it. After her pregnancy test, the audience sees two split timelines and shows how different they would be like, as well as exploring the similarities between her as a young mother and as a carefree young adult.
The Netflix movie is fun and lighthearted while dealing with some important subjects. Here is howLook Both Waystackles anxiety and regrets for the characters as well as the audience.
Look Both Ways is Two Movies in One
The plot really starts in one decisive moment: when Natalie takes a pregnancy test at her college graduation party. There are two possibilities: she is pregnant after sleeping with Gabe (Danny Ramirez), or she’s not. After the test is done, both options start to play out, and the movie follows them. The ‘not pregnant’ Natalie goes with her friend Cara (Aisha Dee) to live in LA as they had planned for a while, and the pregnant Natalie gives up on the move and goes back to her parent’s house.
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What is well done in the movie is how these two possible timelines are explored: one is not ‘better’ than the other. There are moments that the path with her kid is harder (as expected), but there is no negative connotation to it, so much so that, in the end, Natalie finds herself happy and in love, fulfilled in both possible scenarios. At the same time that the movie explores both possibilities and how different they are, it shows some events that are just unavoidable, such as heartbreak, unexpected career moves, and disappointments.
For romance lovers, one interesting element is how the timelines play into differentclichés known in the romance genre. The not pregnant Natalie in LA falls in love with one of her co-workers, Jake (David Corenswet): an office romance. But the pregnant Natalie in Austin falls in love with the father of her child and her best friend, Gabe: friends to lovers. It is fun to watch two completely different stories and how they use the genre they are set in to create divergent dynamics between the timelines.
Anxiety, Regret, and FOMO
Anxiety has become a part of everyday life for a majority of people. This has beenexacerbated by the pandemic. There have been some studies that show that people between the ages of 18-25 years old have had aconsiderable increase in anxietyin the past years. That is not to say that people outside this age range are not anxious, but young adults have been suffering from it more every year. They are the exact demographic for this Netflix movie.
FOMO is slang for fear of missing out, but this is something that, unfortunately (as shown in the movie) is inevitable. There is no way of experiencing everything with everyone: every choice you make will lead you to a different place; thinking too much about all the choices you didn’t make (and the timelines you’re aren’t living) can lead youto have anxiety. Regret is another element that the movie discusses. Unfortunately, you will mess up relationships, jobs, and other things in your life regardless of what path you choose.
These things, however, shouldn’t be a reason to freak out, as the protagonist found out in both timelines, and is reiterated at the end when they say to her past self: you are okay. Making mistakes, having regrets, and missing things are not only okay but normal. In our current society, where everything is posted on social media and the feeling of missing out has probably never been grander (something the character goes through in the movie), it is nice to see this particular subject being shown on the small screen.
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What the movie tries to do is somehow subvert, even if for only its duration, viewers' anxiety about the future and what it holds. Yes, it is necessary to think about the future, but it is also extremely unpredictable. The story tries to take away some of the crushing weight that is being placed on young adults today on a daily basis.
Look Both Ways and the Importance of Dreams
One of the main messages of the movie, besides how to deal with anxiety, is how important dreams and staying true to yourself are, regardless of the path you choose — in a very rom-com type of fashion. It is nice to see Natalie being invited to SXSW in both timelines, even if for different things. But the main element they share is the important part: she was invited because of something she created. This directly correlates with the anxiety of the future: the fear of making one wrong move and your entire career-ending is extremely real. So, when the story reiterates that even if she had led completely different lives, she would still achieve great things is a very kind thing that it does to its audience.
Look Both Waysis a feel-good movie made for the current young adult audience. The subjects shown are more focused on the intended audience than the characters, this not being a completely bad thing. But, like most rom-coms, it can be watched and enjoyed by everyone. If you are feeling anxious, some resources can help, such as theHealthline website.
