With our excitement boiling over at the release of the highly-anticipated One Day, we sent one of our writers to review the new release. Here’s what she thought…

By Bunmi Kuti

As we are often too familiar with, most screenplay adaptations rarely ever truly satisfies its audience. This particular film, based on the number one best book seller by David Nicholls, however, is a surprising exception. The success of this may boil down to David writing the screenplay himself, coupled with the talented ‘An Education’ director Lone Scherfig, thus posing an excellent team. But this isn’t to say they excelled in bringing this to the big screen. Rather a job well done considering the weight and pressure of project – it did after all spend three months on New York’s best seller list and was translated into 31 languages.

For those of you not familiar with One Day (and how you have managed to resist picking up that bright orange and cream book is beyond me. Read it!) the main plot centres around two characters – Yorkshire born Emma Morley (Anne Hathaway) and posh boy Dexter Mayhew (Jim Sturgess) who meet on their graduation day – 15th July 1988. Following a very awkward but funny aborted graduation hook-up, they promise to keep in touch, forging in a friendship that will last a lifetime. For the next two decades, this promise is upheld as we follow them every 15th July, witnessing their relationship evolve together and apart. It charts their careers – Emma goes from a geeky Mexican restaurant waitress, to a teacher, before becoming a hot and successful children novelist. Dexter meanwhile goes travelling, becomes a D-list TV presenter, ends up with a cocaine and alcohol addiction, before eventually being kicked out of TV scene.

Emotionally, Emma longs for Dexter but finds herself living with failed comedian Ian, played by the very funny Rafe Spall. Similarly, Dexter keeps his feelings for Emma at a distance and finds himself marrying Sylvie (Romola Garai). Frustratingly, it’s a romance full of opportunities lost – the why didn’t we’s and the should haves. One thing is for sure however, we do one day get to see Emma and Dexter as a couple.

The chemistry between Emma and Dex is convincing and despite the doubts many had on Anne Hathaway (not going to lie, myself included) she absolutely nails Emma. Couldn’t quite imagine how the ‘Princess Diaries’ actress could convey the humorous, awkwardness and sadness of Emma, but she does. Now the accent, which is what you’ve all been waiting for, if you were expecting to be blown away like we all were with Renee Zellwegger in Bridget Jones then think again. It’s not perfect but the girl did good…ish. The earlier you accept this, the easier it will be for you to enjoy the film.

Jim Sturgess (who will become every girls eye candy) shines as Dexter. A particular scene that stands out is when he is found at the top of the stairs following a drunken brawl the night before – I am talking tears and trust me, it will get you too. There are a lot of laughs in this film especially from Rafe Spall who, although rarely appears, is hilarious in every scene and steals the show.

Overall One Day is a beautifully shot romantic movie with roaringly funny and tear jerking moments. It’s a film which has stayed true to the book – a sound adaptation that should definitely be seen.

It opens in cinemas on 24th August.

For a trailer and behind the scenes video see www.ifashionmagazine.com/one-day.