First Love is a basic, no-frills, earnest, old-fashioned romance. Not a rom-com, not a melodramatic potboiler, not an R rated farce, not overly saccharin. It’s, unfortunately, also a little bit too drama-free and struggles to justify it’s relatively average runtime.

The flick is about a teenage boy who meets a girl and they become each others First Love. It’s also about the boy’s parents – who are also each other’s first love – and how their marriage is put to the test when 2008 hits and he loses his job.

This flick is totally earnest in all ways, shapes, and forms. It’s sweet and romantic while also being honest about where dopey first love can go as you grow older. But, yeah, it also really struggles to remain interesting since it’s so committed to not having any melodrama or goofy misunderstandings or unconvincing drama. Yes the two couples have romance troubles but it’s not for any grand misunderstanding or whatever.

The movie just kind of levels into a bit of a plodding snore after awhile. I’d say there’s still enough good here that if you are a romantic fool yourself, you might enjoy it. I’m not a romantic fool but I respected the hell out of the film’s desire to be old fashioned and uncomplicated. Didn’t mean I wasn’t impatient starting in the second act though.

It’s a decent film. A good watch for parts of its runtime. But sometimes the drums do hum and the humdrums befall the flick. I think you know if this is the kind of movies for you… so go forth hopeless romantics. You might enjoy it.

Score: 73