The First Time (movie review)

MOVIE: The First Time
GENRE: Romance/Drama

This film, as you can probably guess, is about two people who loose their virginity to each other. However, it really is about more than that and I'd perhaps even argue that the sex storyline is there more as an amplifier to the bigger themes of relationships and growing up. Because really, I think this movie is more about relationships and different kinds of relationships. Different kind of friends, families, couples and all that.

The thing about this movie is that whilst there are a number of supporting characters, it really does all rest on the shoulder of the two leads. Thankfully the casting director did a wonderful job and Dylan O'Brien and Britt Robertson as the two leads, Dave and Aubrey, were really good. Watching them and their relationship grow in the movie was just very very believable and all the acting was spot on. Nothing over the top or anything, just an honest representation of their situations.

And on that note, the thing about this movie that I did like is that in most books and movies when the two characters have sex, and often it is for the first time, that's kind of it. It's just glossed over. I loved that in this movie they looked a little at what happened after and showed that it can be really awkward and perhaps a little embarrassing and that it isn't necessarily all going to go perfectly on the first try.

The soundtrack to this film was wonderful. A really nice mix of scoring, and then older style music with more contemporary pop songs. (Check out the Wikipedia page for a full list). And music is used as a device in the film quite well, with Aubrey being artistically inclined and using music almost like a catalyst for the things that happen in their relationship. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say the music parallels their relationship almost. It starts off with a record she just happens to have on her turntable, then moves to songs the specifically downloads onto her computer, and then finally to the classic mixtape she makes for his car. Which in the context of his character has even more resonance due to his relatioship with his car.

That last bit probably sounded strange but I really do recommend watching the film. It is honestly just a gorgeously quaint film. Very worth your time. Very entrancing.

Until next time.