‘Oh, Hi!’ Review: Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman Have Electric Chemistry in Sophie Brooks’ Twisted, Half-Great Spin on the Rom-Com

Oh, Hi! starts out like an everyday romantic comedy: Two gorgeous young 20somethings go on a romantic trip to upstate New York. Iris (Molly Gordon) is bubbly and fun, while her boyfriend Isaac (Logan Lerman) is more sensitive and reserved. There’s a small sign of trouble when the two stop by a strawberry stand and the woman running it hits on Isaac. Here we see the first flickers of Iris’ insecurity and Isaac’s general flirtiness.

But by the time the couple arrives at the picturesque farmhouse, everything is like a dream. The house is large and beautiful — the perfect venue to bring their relationship to the next level. They make out in the nearby creek, Isaac goes down on Iris on the couch, and they share a delicious meal outside at night under warm lights. Later, they sneak into the bedroom of their absent hosts, take some chain restraints from their closet, and decide to try out kinky sex. At first, Isaac ties up Iris, but she panics and yells for him to let her go. Molly has another idea: What if Isaac is restrained instead? 

What follows is one of the best romantic comedy sex scenes to grace the big screen in some time. Gordon and Lerman have great bedroom chemistry, quipping with each other between thrusts and making direct eye contact. Iris is on top, taking control of the encounter, and by the time they’re done, both have achieved orgasm.

But then, there’s the mood killer: Isaac says he’s not looking for a relationship right now. Suddenly, Iris’ world is shattered. The boyfriend she thought she’d had for four months thought they were just hanging out, with the sex and romance only meant to be a trifle. Iris is rightfully taken aback, and in her anger decides not to release Isaac.

Once Isaac is chained to the bed indefinitely, Oh, Hi! goes completely off the rails. Iris becomes manic, insisting that she can make the man she’s hung all her hopes on realize that he wants to get serious with her. As the situation escalates, Iris’ good friends Max (Geraldine Viswanathan) and Kenny (John Reynolds) arrive at the house and try to de-escalate the situation. Isaac has threatened to go to the police, turning Iris’ romantic fantasy into a nightmare.

The dark inclinations of Oh, Hi! are a welcome change to the modern rom-com formula, externalizing Iris’ millennial romantic anxiety into a full emotional breakdown. She’s so excited about the idea of deleting the dating apps forever and having the kind of long-term relationship she wanted that it never occurs to her that Isaac might not be prepared for that. Though he’s older and looks like boyfriend material on the outside, Isaac is the stereotypical millennial man — loves emotional intimacy and sex but panics at the very idea of commitment.

Complicating matters is the fact that Gordon and Lerman have a real spark, complementing each other’s energy almost perfectly. So much so that despite the darkness of their situation, there’s still a delusional glimmer of hope that they may end up together. 

With her sophomore feature, Brooks establishes herself as an exciting new voice in the romantic comedy landscape, with echoes of Elaine May’s underrated classic The Heartbreak Kid. There are shades of Jeannie Berlin’s sweet and naive Lila within Gordon’s tragically vulnerable Iris, a romantic heroine whose anxieties are born from the loneliness of modern living.

But unfortunately, the story — conceived by Gordon and Brooks with a screenplay written by Brooks — runs out of steam halfway through, unsure where to go with its unique premise. Isaac is a bit underwritten, the movie rarely delving into the roots of his aversion to intimacy and romance at such a relatively young age. There are hints that he’s just an old soul and is too self-conscious to really lose himself in love, but these ideas could have been pushed further. 

Supporting the main couple, Viswanathan and Reynolds are the blissfully in-love foil to Iris and Isaac’s dysfunction. Despite meeting on Tinder, Kenny sees Max as his soulmate, and though she doesn’t verbalize it, it’s clear the feeling is mutual. They are the millennial fantasy — emerging from the cursed apps, prepared to live happily ever after. Reynolds is Brooks’ secret weapon, stealing every scene he’s in and selling every line with his calming Kermit the Frog-like voice. With her previous roles in Blockers and Drive-Away Dolls, Viswanathan is a studio comedy pro at this point, injecting her trademark sarcasm and deadpan stare whenever necessary.

Lerman is the biggest surprise in the cast by far, displaying comedic chops that his previous roles in dramas and genre films never really allowed for. The longer he stays chained to the bed, the funnier and more desperate Isaac becomes.

Despite its narrative issues, there’s a lot to like about Oh, Hi! With its playful writing and game cast, the film is sure to attract young fans and find its audience. At its root, this is a surprisingly sensitive commentary on uniquely millennial romantic loneliness.