The new film What’s Love Got To Do With It? – no, not the Tina Turner movie – puts a new spin on an old story. This romance movie stars Lily James (Downton Abbey) as Zoe, and Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery) as her childhood friend, Kaz.

Kaz is going to have an arranged marriage. So, Zoe (being a documentary filmmaker) gets permission to make a documentary following him through this journey. Along the way, we see different sides of the story from the parents to the matchmakers. Zoe begins to question her own methods of finding love while realizing it may have been in front of her the whole time.

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT IS A SWEET FILM

I found What’s Love Got To Do With It? to be a sweet film. While watching the audience is taken into the world of arranged marriages where we get to learn about them from all sides. What I appreciate is that it doesn’t just show the good. We see where devoutness can cause rifts in families, and marrying someone you don’t know and love can be great, but also has its downsides.

The film is shot beautifully from the picturesque scenes to the incredible costumes. Emma Thompson (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande) is absolutely living her best life as Zoe’s whimsical mother.

Lily James and Shazad Latif have been friends for years, and that shows. While I loved watching them on their separate journeys I think this may have been the one time I wasn’t rooting for the “friends” to be together. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted them to each have their happy endings. But I didn’t want their ending to be as a couple.

WHY DIDN’T I WANT THEM TOGETHER?

First, Lily James and Shazad Latif have charm in spades. Just a smile or a smirk and instantly fall in love with them. However, while the two are friends they have zero romantic chemistry. With a title like What’s Love Got To Do With It? the point they’re trying to be made is it doesn’t always matter. However, in Zoe and Kaz’s case, it does.

Zoe is incredibly selfish in life, in work, and in her friendships. Kaz is trying to find happiness, and in the end, is incredibly selfless. While the two go on their separate journies I don’t feel they grow together and to each like you see in other romance films. 

What’s Love Got To Do With It? is also being billed as a rom-com. This just isn’t the case, but calling it a romance with zero chemistry is also tough. In the end, I think the film is worth a watch on a rainy day on your couch when you’re looking for something to pass the time.

What’s Love Got To Do With It? is currently playing in theaters!

Shazad Latif On His New Movie, ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’ [INTERVIEW]