Chelsea Alexandra
I don’t mean to be dramatic, but dating is exhausting. It’s never really been fun, but with dating apps now leading the way we connect, the whole experience feels even more bleak. You swipe and swipe and finally make a match. Sometimes you never speak to those matches but every once in a while, you’ll find a person you “vibe” with and text endlessly. Finally, this person might have potential. The excitement builds as you imagine what meeting in person will be like—until you finally do. Turns out, they’re not who you expected them to be. It makes you question the point of all of it, what is the point? In Cazzie David and Elisa Kalani’s I Love You Forever, Mackenzie thinks after countless duds she may have finally found “the one”.
Sofia Black-D’Elia stars as Mackenzie, a law student whose only romantic prospect is her hook-up buddy (played by Raymond Cham Jr.) known for the dreaded 2 AM text. At a birthday party for her best friend, Ally (played by David), Mackenzie meets Finn (Ray Nicholson), a charming and charismatic broadcast journalist. The whirlwind romance moves a little too fast with grand romantic gestures, heartfelt confessions, and thoughtful gifts. However, as the honeymoon phase fades, Mackenzie starts noticing red flags that become harder to dismiss.
At first glance, I Love You Forever presents itself as a familiar rom-com, complete with Meet Cutes, witty banter, and a seemingly magnetic connection between its leads. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this is not a love story. It uses the genre’s familiar rhythms to explore the horror of abuse. Today, it’s easier to accept that abusers are not always outright menacing and wear the red flags on their sleeves. They can look like the charming and charismatic Finn (Nicholson). At first, his biggest offense is coming on a little too strong with big romantic gestures that feel fairytale-like. But sooner or later, the truth is revealed, and the microaggressions and the constant pleas for attention. It is one of the hard pills to swallow when watching I Love You Forever, an abuser doesn’t have to adhere to a specific look. From start to finish, most cis straight women will feel numb to what is presented because every event that happens in I Love You Forever is a reality.
While I Love You Forever presents a bleak take on modern dating, it only scratches the surface. Balancing the seriousness of the topic with a lighthearted tone is a challenge. At times, the humor feels abrupt. The sudden shifts can be jarring rather than seamless. That said, the writing isn’t without its strengths. The moments of pure comedy are sharp and genuinely funny. Having read David’s book of essays entitled, No One Asked For This, her humor shines through in I Love You Forever. The film’s deeper explorations of Mackenzie’s emotional turmoil land with real impact. However, because it struggles to fully commit to either direction, it does leave the overall tone feeling somewhat uneven.
Black-D’Elia delivers a nuanced and deeply affecting performance as Mackenzie. She brings an authenticity to the role that makes Mackenzie feel both relatable and heartbreakingly real. Black-D’Elia shines in the film’s subtler moments—her micro-expressions speaking volumes as Mackenzie tries to rationalize Finn’s behavior. Her performance anchors the film, ensuring that even in its most unsettling moments, the story remains grounded in human emotion.
In the age of dating apps, situationships, and instant connections, I Love You Forever feels especially relevant. Modern dating often romanticizes intensity. Love bombing can be mistaken for passion and vulnerability. David and Kalani’s subversive approach to the rom-com doesn’t just modernize the genre—it dismantles it, exposing the fine line between romantic intensity and toxic obsession. It makes for a both timely and unsettling familiar watch.
