Newly divorced Syd (Lisa Edelstein) is now attempting to navigate the new, digital world of dating. She tries different apps, goes on a series of dates, and finds that each and every date teaches her something about herself. Swipe NYC follows Syd through her journey toward finding love, but maybe she’s already found it.
SPOILER ALERT: I can’t understand for the life of me why Syd doesn’t end up with Luke (David Kelsey). Rarely am I the type of person that thinks about who the main character should end up with, and rarely do I really care about romantic comedies that showcase the ramblings of those searching for love, but Swipe NYC is different. Me caring about these things is a testament to how well developed this film is, starting from the writing and trickling all the way down to the most seemingly insignificant details.
Syd is relatable in more ways than one. She’s struggling with so many parts of her life, and just that is enough to allow viewers access to the film–but beyond that Edelstein does such a wonderful job of conveying emotion. It’s all in the eyes. Edelstein uses her eyes to express emotion, to develop drama, and to reel viewers in and keep them interested throughout the course of Swipe NYC. She is the heart and soul of the film–and without a flawless performance, I’m not sure that even the stellar writing of Writer-Director Sue Kramer could have survived. She delivers every step of the way, and she is viewers’ way into the film from beginning to end.
Viewers are thrown a series of different personalities that play opposite Syd. Aggressive, standoffish, passionate, romantic, and more play a role in developing Swipe NYC and the character of Syd. This comes down to the writing of Kramer, as she fills this film to the brim with content, layers of it. Nothing really sits on the surface, and the deeper meaning that exists throughout must be harvested by viewers as the film progresses. Swipe NYC does a stellar job of forcing viewers to think, to analyze every single move of both the main character and the supporting characters. There are bits of everyone that I hated, just the way Kramer had intended–yet in each of those characters, even the worst ones, there are brilliantly bright moments that allow them to resonate with viewers. I’m not sure that a moment passed when I didn’t feel connected to the characters, every single one of them, and as a result I felt so strongly connected to the film as a whole.
At the heart of Swipe NYC it’s a romantic comedy, the genre of film that I tend to try the hardest to avoid. The reality is, however, that avoidance isn’t always an option–it’s also not the best decision. It’s important that I expand my horizons, that I dive head first into the things that I don’t necessarily love–and I’m so glad that I did with Swipe NYC. It’s far different from the other films of the genre, as it deals more eloquently with emotions and real-life problems. It doesn’t attempt to exaggerate and appeal to viewers by overdoing anything–and it ultimately sets itself up for great success. The brilliance of Swipe NYC starts with the script and eventually lands on the shoulders of Edelstein, who delivers a spectacular performance that never falters. She guides us through this film, through the emotional relevance of everything that is said and done, and when all is said and done, I simply want more.
Written & Directed by Sue Kramer.
Starring Lisa Edelstein, Richard Schiff, Bridget Moynahan, David Kelsey, Omari K. Chancellor, David Walton, Angela Wong Carbone, Justin Marcel McManus, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
Comments