NETFLIX'S FIND ME FALLING IS PROVING CRITICS WRONG

The most recent romance movie to make its way onto Netflix has been a chart-topper, landing in the number one spot in many countries and entering the top ten of all of 2024 for watches on the streaming platform. With such a great reception, you would think that the film is also beloved by critics.... right? Well, continuing a common trend, Find Me Falling has fallen flat with critics but is loved by the fan base.

We will examine how Stelana Kliris's heartfelt romantic comedy Find Me Falling has failed to impress critics and why its subsequent success on Netflix has proven them wrong.

The Plot and Cast of Find Me Falling

After a failed comeback album, rock star John Allman (Harry Connick Jr.) escapes to Cyrpus, a country where he has a history of finding and losing love. His home, a suicide hotspot, causes him to become a focal point of the community, but it is the run-in with his past flame and learning that he has a daughter that draws him deep into the past and the regret of love lost.

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Harry Connick Jr., a TV and film star, plays John Allman. Romance fans may remember Connick for his roles in movies like Hope Floats, P.S. I Love You, and Angels Sing. He was also a semi-regular character on the hit TV show Will and Grace. Agnie Scott plays the romantic interest of Sia, most will recognize Scott from her role as Camila in Bridget Jones's Baby. A relative newcomer to the screen, Ali Fumiko Whitney plays the young, hopeful singer Melina. The movie was directed by Cyrpus native Stelana Kliris; Find Me Falling, her second feature film, is the first Cypriot movie to stream on Netflix.

What Critics Have Said About Find Me Falling

At the time of writing, Find Me Falling currently has a Rotten score of 33%, with 24 critic scores, and 73% with 100+ fan ratings. An apparent early contrast between ratings is not uncommon, but many of the critics' reviews appear to be particularly harsh on a few elements of the fan-favorite romantic comedy. The most common critique comes from John Allman's bizarre living situation, where he constantly runs into people wanting to commit suicide. This, when played for laughs, is one thing critics universally do not seem to enjoy.

Other critics found that the movie was too formulaic in its delivery, including Courtney Howard of Variety, who stated, "Though the twist is instantly obvious to anyone who’s ever seen a movie before." Howard would also add another element that popped up in several reviews regarding the films' stereotypical approach to portraying men in the romance genre, noting, "The sentiment that more helping hands are better is understandable, but the insinuation that we need to have a man around to feel totally fulfilled is off-putting."

It is important to note that most of the negative reviews are not entirely scathing; Find Me Falling is not nearly as painful as the previously critically maligned Mother of the Bride. Many of the negative reviews gave ratings comparable to 2 out of 5, finding elements like Harry Connick Jr.'s dry sense of humor endearing and the movie's humorous moments despite the many other issues they had with the production.

Why Critics Have Been Proven Wrong About Find Me Falling

As has been a continued trend, even with the previously mentioned Mother of the Bride, Rotten-rated films still find their way up the Netflix charts, showing that audiences ignore the critical response when considering what to watch next. While the movie has been hovering between third and fourth most watched in the US, it has stayed number one on the Netflix charts in multiple countries. As it is arguable whether Rotten Tomatoes scores matter anymore in the modern landscape, success stories like this indeed point to many ignoring critical aggregate ratings.

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Does this mean the critiques against the movie are invalid? Yes and no. Many elements of the film do feel formulaic, and the comedic use of suicide is not always in the greatest of taste. However, there is a comfort in familiarity that critics often downplay. Not every film needs to look at re-inventing the genre, redefining the traditional roles, or offering unexpected twists. Find Me Falling thrives under its familiar formula, and it has already garnered fans for its approach.

There are many positive aspects to Find Me Falling. Harry Connick Jr.'s performance is charming and charismatic; the beautiful landscape of Cyprus provides the perfect backdrop for a tale of romance and self-discovery, and the script is heartfelt and humorous. While certainly not a masterpiece, Find Me Falling is a well-executed rom-com with many elements that fans will appreciate. The Rotten rating certainly does not feel deserved when looking at the success and execution of the movie.

Should You Watch Find Me Falling?

Those who have enjoyed any of Netflix's original romance movies should check out Find Me Falling; it is one of the better ones to hit the platform. Those who also want a comfort watch (led by a swoon-worthy Harry Connick Jr.) will find the heartfelt moments trump any critiques currently thrown at the movie. Thankfully, you can check out the latest Netflix chart-topper for yourself and see if you agree with the audience's reception or the critical scorn; Find Me Falling is currently streaming on Netflix.