‘Love Language’ Review: Chloë Grace Moretz Sells Words of Affirmation in an Old-School Romcom With Gen-Z Trappings

Joey Power's pleasant distraction stars Moretz as the 'Cyrano of Chicago,' writing wedding vows for various tongue-tied nearlyweds, while making a hash of her own love life.

By Guy Lodge

Guy Lodge

Film Critic

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• Comments

Much has been written on the new dating politics practiced by Gen-Z — more progressive socially, more conservative sexually, if you believe the hot takes, which you probably shouldn’t. Either way, that sensibility has yet to trickle down to mainstream portrayals of Zoomer romance on screen, which remain largely beholden to templates established by previous generations. “Love Language” is the latest in a line of youthful romantic comedies in nostalgic thrall to ’90s tropes of the genre, from klutzy meet-cutes to gay best friends to climactic airport interventions, and if it modestly updates proceedings with queer marriage and cocaine jokes, it still suggests that our species’ mating rituals have largely held fast. That Joey Power‘s palatable, attractively assembled film will likely be a comfort watch for many under-30s should in turn be a comfort to their elders.

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