Director: Jason Winer
Writer: Max Werner (Screenplay) Chris Higgins (Story)
Starring: Martin Freeman, Morena Baccarin, Jake Lacy, Melissa Rauch, Shannon Woodward, Jane Curtain
Plot: Charlie has a neurological disorder where strong emotions, especially joy, make him faint. He lives with his brother. Working as librarian gives him a quiet environment but then Francesca enters the library and his life.
Tagline – He’s never been happier. And that’s the problem.
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Ode to Joy starts as we meet brothers Charlie (Freeman) and Cooper (Lacy) who are always there to support each other as Charlie has a neurological disorder that will see him faint whenever he has a moment of joy. Charlie meets Francesca (Baccarin) a bubbly woman that he hits it off with, but he can’t have that moment of joy around.
Charlie tries to get Cooper to date Francesca to keep her around, while he starts dating the much calmer woman Bethany (Rauch), even if the chemistry between the two could help deal with his own problems.
Thoughts on Ode to Joy
Thoughts – Ode to Joy is a romantic comedy that will bring us a man that will faint if he experiences happiness on too high of a level, making dating almost impossible until he meets a woman unlike anyone he has met before. This does bring a new spin to the idea of finding love, with it seeming more difficult for someone who meets someone else who is looking to escape their normal mistakes. The performances are strong throughout the film, with Martin Freeman and Morena Baccarin in the leading roles bringing both their characters to life with their differences, along with Jake Lacy and Melissa Rauch in the supporting roles getting the big scenes too. The New York backdrop is always one of my favourites for the romantic comedy genres and this is no different for the film.
Ode to Joy a simple and enjoyable film that is elevated by Freeman and Baccarin performances.