This Time Next Year (2024)

Release Date: February 10, 2025

Director: Nick Moore

Starring: Sophie Cookson, Lucien Laviscount, Golda Rosheuvel, John Hannah

Confession time: I usually gravitate toward movies that involve explosions, superheroes, or intense dramas with complex plots. But on this particular night, I was in the mood for something a little lighter, a little fluffier—something to sip on with a beer and just coast through. So, when I saw This Time Next Year sitting pretty in the Top 10 on Netflix, I thought, why not give it a go? Spoiler alert: It’s a rom-com... but with some cringe-worthy moments that’ll have you questioning your life choices, or at least your drink choices.

A New Year’s Eve Meet-Cute... With A Twist

The premise? Classic rom-com territory. Sophie Cookson plays Minnie, who, in an ironic twist of fate, crosses paths with Quinn (played by Lucien Laviscount) at a New Year’s Eve party. They discover they were both born in the same London hospital on New Year’s Day, just a minute apart. And—wait for it—Minnie has spent her entire life believing that Quinn is the source of all her bad luck. Why? Because, apparently, that’s how destiny works in rom-com land.

As you can imagine, hijinks, misunderstandings, and inevitable romantic tension ensue. It’s that kind of story where everything is just a little bit too perfect for it to be anything but predictable. But hey, I didn’t mind. I cracked open my beer and settled in for a good time, or so I thought.

Sophie Cookson: The Underrated Star

Now, Sophie Cookson’s Minnie isn’t exactly groundbreaking. She’s charming enough, and you can tell she’s trying to bring some layers to her character beyond the typical rom-com heroine. There’s a fair amount of self-deprecation in her delivery that makes Minnie relatable, which is a plus. I mean, who doesn’t want to watch a character who seems like someone you’d have a pint with at the local pub, even if she’s inadvertently convinced her entire life has been cursed by an encounter with a guy she barely remembers from high school?

Her comedic timing is decent, and when she delivers her one-liners, you do get a sense that this could’ve been a bit of a sleeper hit if they’d leaned into the humor a bit more. But let's be honest, she’s not exactly breaking new ground here.

Lucien Laviscount: More Than Just A Pretty Face?

Lucien Laviscount as Quinn? Well, he's charming… in the way that a cute guy at a party is charming when he’s trying too hard to get everyone to think he’s charming. His character is meant to be the romantic lead who turns the whole “bad luck” thing around with a smile and a couple of deep, meaningful stares. But I couldn’t help but feel like Quinn, while undeniably handsome, never quite lives up to the magnetic charisma he’s supposed to have. Instead, he comes across more as a guy you'd swipe left on in a dating app because his bio is suspiciously vague.

Sure, Laviscount has the looks. He’s got the charm... on paper. But the chemistry between him and Cookson? It’s meh. It’s the kind of relationship where you can almost see the scriptwriters behind the scenes, nudging their actors, going, "Yeah, now do the thing where you stare at each other for way too long and pretend like you’ve just shared the most profound moment of your lives."

Golda Rosheuvel and John Hannah: The Real MVPs

Okay, I’ll admit, This Time Next Year is one of those films where the side characters really steal the show. Golda Rosheuvel as Tara (Minnie’s best friend) is exactly the kind of character you want to hang out with—funny, no-nonsense, and the voice of reason amidst all the drama. She provides some much-needed levity to a story that sometimes feels like it’s trying too hard to be deep or poignant.

John Hannah as Keith, Quinn’s friend, also has a couple of standout moments that inject a bit of warmth into the movie. It’s a shame that the script doesn’t give these characters more screen time, because they’re definitely the real stars of the show.

The Pacing: Slow And Steady... But Maybe Too Steady

Now, I’ll be honest. There were moments in This Time Next Year where I found myself checking my watch. The pacing is... sluggish. There are a lot of scenes where people talk about fate and destiny, and sure, there’s some light humor, but when you’ve got a beer in your hand and the most exciting thing happening is a deep conversation about hospital births and life decisions, it’s easy to tune out.

The problem isn’t that it’s a bad film; it’s that it’s predictable. There are no surprises, no real emotional highs, and at the end of it, you’re left feeling like you’ve watched a whole lot of nothing unfold on screen for 90 minutes.

Rom-Com Tropes Galore

You know those rom-coms where you can practically predict the entire plot just by seeing the trailer? Yeah, This Time Next Year is that movie. I mean, sure, it’s cute, but I kept thinking, "Okay, they’re gonna kiss now... and now they’re gonna have a big misunderstanding... and now they’re going to reconcile in a slightly-too-dramatic-for-a-comedy scene." It doesn’t stray too far from the usual formula, and while that’s fine for some viewers, for me, it made the experience feel like I was watching a checklist of rom-com tropes instead of an original film.

Final Verdict: It's Fine... But That's About It

This Time Next Year is that perfect movie for a Sunday afternoon when you’re not looking for anything too deep, just something light and easy to watch while you half-pay attention to it. It’s not bad, but it’s also not great. It’s fine.

Would I recommend it? Sure, if you’ve got a couple of hours to kill, a bottle of wine, and zero expectations. If you’re craving a rom-com with a bit more substance or surprise, though, you might want to keep scrolling.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 out of 10 stars)

Until next time, keep your drinks cold, your expectations low, and your popcorn buttered. Cheers! 🥂