Warning: SPOILERS ahead darlings are in front!
While everyone flocked to theaters this week and prepared a box office feast for a handful of 2024 releases, I decided to take a look at what’s new in streaming. I came across Max’s new comedy by chance My dears, and it was hilarious from start to finish. However, it would have been even better if storylines A and B had been split into two separate films.
For those who haven’t stumbled upon it yet darlings While aimlessly browsing some of the best streaming services in search of something to watch, the A-story follows two college freshmen/childhood best friends who have decided that they have to break up with their high school sweethearts when They’re in town for Thanksgiving break. Jamie (Kiernan Shipka) and Ben (Nio Hiraga) have an elaborate plan to end their respective relationships on the eve of Thanksgiving, but things don’t go according to plan.
Meanwhile, her other best friend, Palmer (Caleb Hearon), decides to take a break from his exciting life in Paris to return to Ohio to throw a coming out party the night before Thanksgiving. Like Jamie and Ben, Palmer’s plans fail, but he learns that his hometown isn’t as narrow-minded as he previously thought.
“Sweethearts” brought humor and a lot of emotion
The idea of college students coming home on Thanksgiving to end their high school relationships isn’t new — check out Freeform’s original film Turkey Drop – darlings made it unique by focusing on the platonic relationship between Jamie and Ben.
It was refreshing to see their friendships take center stage and stay that way for the duration of the film. Even when they kissed, they quickly realized that they were better off as friends, which doesn’t happen too often. Not to mention, Shipka and Hiraga’s comedic timing was impeccable as they delivered hilarious lines of dialogue and physical comedy moments.
While there was an emotional element at play in Jamie and Ben’s quest to become single again, the real emotional arc of the story rested on Palmer’s shoulders. darlings could have played up his entire storyline for fun, especially since it was assumed that everyone knew he was gay, even if he hadn’t officially come out publicly. Instead, it handled it with a grace that not many other films could. Through Palmer’s story, darlings was able to provide an authentic look at the Midwestern queer experience, which is largely underrepresented in the media.
If the two storylines had been made into their own films, they would have been even better
The way it looks darlings is an excellent film with two tight storylines that eventually intersect. However, since these two stories take place at the same time, there are times when we should delve deeper into them, but instead we come to the other.
If the two stories had happened in separate films, Jamie and Ben would have had more time to explore their codependent relationship and what it means for their respective futures. Their kiss wouldn’t have felt so out of place because they could have prepared more for it, and therefore the decision that they would be better off as friends would have been more fulfilling.
However, it’s Palmer’s story that would have really benefited from being its own film. As I said, it’s not a point of view that isn’t often explored in even the best LGBTQ+ films, and the way it was handled here was heartwarming and hilarious. I would have liked Palmer to learn more life lessons from Coach Reese (Tramell Tillman) and for his relationship with Lukas (Miles Gutierrez-Riley) to develop more slowly. It would also have been nice to spend more time with Palmer at the beginning, to see how miserable he actually was in Paris, instead of having to hear about it.
No matter what I think, darlings was a fun and entertaining film that everyone should watch. You can stream it with an active Max subscription.
