A warmly sentimental movie ideal for a light-hearted watch
The first story follows a woman who regrets not aborting her unborn child, while the second follows a man who regrets killing his own child. Both stories are told from the perspective of the characters, and it is fascinating to see how their lives have turned out differently because of their decisions. ..
Natalie’s life is going according to plan until she meets a man named John who changes everything. He tells her that he can help her achieve her desires and that they can have the life she always wanted. Natalie is hesitant at first, but after getting to know John better, she realizes that he is the one who can make her dreams come true.
Natalie wishes to settle in Los Angeles with her best friend after graduating from college. She seems to have a plan in place, beginning with her relocation to Los Angeles to establish herself as a creative animator. Given that it is their final night of college, she and Gabe participate in an act of spontaneity, which prompts Natalie to buy a pregnancy test while the graduation celebration rages outside. She is concerned about the results, as all of her aspirations depend on this crucial moment. If she becomes pregnant and decides to keep the child, she is aware that she’ll be unable to stick to her plan. The test results are negative, much to her relief… at least within the first timeline.
Natalie’s story begins with a test that she is not supposed to pass. She decides to retake the test, even though she knows it will not be worth the trouble. After failing the first time, Natalie decides to take a different approach and study more for her future tests. She also begins to make new friends and focus on her studies in order to improve her chances of passing. However, when she takes the second test, she passes with flying colors. This unexpected turn in events leads Natalie to question everything she has been told about her future and what it means for her. She starts to explore her options more and realizes that there may be more than one path for her after the test is negative.
Natalie’s story demonstrates that life will take its own route, no matter how well you prepare for it. Whatever route you take, everything tends to happen within its own time. This becomes evident towards the end of Natalie’s journey when we witness both her lives intersect at the same point. ..
Natalie’s initial assumption is that “Look Both Ways” will be more intense, but this takes a simpler route and does not take into account Natalie’s moral dilemma about whether she should have the baby. The message is clear: don’t have the baby.
The color scheme of the movie is well-balanced, using earthy tones for LA and blues for Natalie’s small hometown. The hairstyle and clothing choices tend to generate a movement for the stories to eventually connect at the final crucial moment and show the audience precisely how far Natalie has come since the fateful night of the graduation ceremony when she was at a critical moment.
In this movie, we get to see two parallel stories unfold simultaneously; the story switches back and forth between the two as we watch. The first story is about a man who has a choice between following his heart or following his head. The second story is about a woman who has a choice between following her heart or following her head.
The supporting cast of Look Both Ways is unfortunately weak, especially that of Natalie’s love interests. We never witness the difficulties of fatherhood at a rather young age, particularly for Gabe. The emphasis of the movie seems to be more on depicting him as a flawless man rather than giving him credit for his flaws and challenges. On a similar note, Natalie’s best friend has incomplete character development. All of this would have given the narrative more depth, but it merely raises the question of “what if”. ..
Natalie’s scenario has a strong beginning but weakens towards the end, which diminishes the impact of the message. ..
Natalie is a terrific character. She balances her dual lives well, and does a great job of conveying the duality of her character. However, she can be a bit annoying at times.
Natalie is a likable character who is always cooperative and present for Gabe. There are no antagonists in her situation, except for when her parents first learn about her pregnancy, and even they eventually come around and support her decisions. In Natalie’s circumstances, conflict is typically started by herself. The storyline exemplifies how we are often our own worst enemies and don’t require outside interference to stir up trouble or chaos.
Natalie’s emotional growth in the two narratives is pretty impressive. The developments are fascinating as they make her relatable to the audience, perhaps not necessarily in the specific details, but rather in the underlying themes of chasing dreams, overcoming perceived setbacks, and discovering your voice. Lilli Reinhart is remarkable in these areas, demonstrating humility and passion.
The film’s main message is that sometimes things do turn out for the best, even if you don’t expect them to.
Although the runtime is a little long, the plot is engaging even towards the end, owing to an inspiring and meaningful character journey. This one’s a warmly sentimental movie, ideal for a lighthearted watch and well worth checking out. ..
