Finding Emily ★★★★

Released: 22 May 2026

Director: Alicia MacDonald

Starring: Spike Fearn, Angourie Rice

Directed by Alicia MacDonald (Too Much) and starring Angourie Rice (Spider-Man: No Way Home) and Spike Fearn (Alien: Romulus) in the leading roles, Finding Emily is a rom-com from the producers of the iconic Love Actually and Bridget Jones’s Diary.

Fearn plays Owen, a lovesick musician who is given the wrong number from his dream girl. He teams up with a driven psychology student played by Rice, to track her down. Together, they spark a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that along the way tests their own hearts and ambitions. Superbly acted, boasting equal parts romance and comedy and brimming with energy from start to finish, Finding Emily is a touching coming of ager with a lot to say about love.

From the offset, Finding Emily thrusts us into a vibrant world. Our lead character Owen may have recently experienced a devastating loss and be unable to discuss the feelings he has with his brother, but he is also a friendly, bubbly guy with a lot of charisma. He meets Emily in a lively, vibrant SU bar whilst she’s dressed up as a fairy, and the movie carries this fun, upbeat tone throughout. From busy, bustling university hallways to drag bars on the Manchester club strip, Finding Emily is full of life. There’s hardly a dull moment, with music and culture even being an integral part of the more drama fuelled scenes. Owen himself is a musician, and the student nightlife culture of Manchester acting as the film’s backdrop ensures that music plays a very important part of the story. From indie bangers to club classics, and even an on-screen appearance from Manchester’s own rock band Blossoms, it’s a toe tapper from start to end. UK viewers will definitely find many relatable aspects of said nightlife culture, drunken kebabs and all. It’s an entertaining ride.

This fun energy doesn’t detract from the themes or story at play, both ensuring that Finding Emily is a cut above many rom coms. First and foremost, Angourie Rice’s character Emily is a psychology student, working on her final dissertation in the hope to land her dream next step and gain her work visa. This gives us many tidbits on the psychology of love, whether it has a place in today’s society, and why humans have evolved to require romantic connection when it really doesn’t aid us. Love often leads us into dangerous places, Emily argues. This negative thought process towards love is what brings her to Owen, an individual who isn’t afraid to embarrass himself and stop at nothing to find who he believes is his true love. Though Owen views this behaviour as romantic, the university population often disagree, inviting some intriguing commentary that questions his authenticity – and his creepiness. It’s both a unique and entertaining plot for a rom-com that allows for laughs, heart and plenty of hijinks along the way. As mentioned above, Finding Emily also has undertones of grief, as we promptly learn of Owen’s loss of his mother. The script explores this topic as much as is warranted, not letting it become the central focus but rather letting it simmer and be part of Owen rather than all of him. This brings some heartfelt moments that work alongside the comedy perfectly, whilst allowing for further character development. The themes and tones are balanced superbly.

The cherry on top of Finding Emily is the performances. Both Rice and Fearn are exceptional in this film, bringing a naturalistic likability to their characters that makes them feel real and lived in. After all, Finding Emily is a rom-com, and neither of those aspects would be as successful without the talent of the pair. As far as romance is concerned, there is excellent chemistry between them as their bond blossoms from acquaintances, to a solid friendship, to maybe more. To put it simply, it’s a swoon-worthy romance that’ll make you kick your feet in the air and root for it until the very last moment. From the first brush of hands to the way Owen becomes protective of her, it’s both well paced and acted. The comedy is just as excellent, with Fearn especially boasting perfect comedic timing that provides the majority of the films laughs. Again, his delivery is so natural and the way he handles the dialogue makes the jokes seem so off the cuff and unprocessed. The mannerisms Fearn gives to Owen make the script and its comedy come to life in a really engaging way. Fearn and Rice sell you every aspect of Finding Emily, from the blossoming romance to the campus culture drama, and the supporting cast including the likes of Cora Kirk (Your Christmas or Mine?) and Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) aren’t half bad either.

Blending rich social commentary on the psychology of love, cancel culture and the age of social media with a swoon-worthy romance, excellent performances and a banging soundtrack, Finding Emily is a fantastic watch. It might be very predictable and feel a bit overly long around the mid section, but that doesn’t detract from what is first and foremost a fun, hilarious and thought-provoking romp, giving a new generation of movie-goers a fresh couple to fall in love with.