Review // Right Kind of Wrong

The Right Kind of a Wrong, the newest from Canadian director Jeremiah Chechik is a fun romantic comedy about a group of flawed characters finding love. A pretty standard premise but the film surprises with an untraditional guy-meets-girl storyline that actually delivers a few laughs and some heartwarming moments along the way.

True Blood’s Ryan Kwanten stars as flawed leading man Leo Pallimeno. Recently divorced, Leo is not only dealing with the dissolution of his marriage but also the public mockery of his entire life after his ex-wife Julie documents everything wrong with him and their relationship on her blog, Why You Suck. Leo is a struggling writer and the news of Julie getting a publishing deal for her blog doesn’t sit well. However, he’s quick to abandon the pity party to focus on an impossible quest – getting Sara Canning’s recently married Collette to fall in love with him and leave her idyllic husband.

A chance encounter has Leo convinced Collette is his one true love and despite not really knowing her, he stubbornly pursues her. While most rom-coms would have the unlikely hero thwart the emotionally distant, or abusive spouse and rescue the girl, Chechik’s doesn’t, instead Collette’s husband is Mr.Right – on top of being handsome, well-educated and compassionate, Ryan McPartlin’s Danny truly loves and cares for Collette. He even takes the high road and isn’t quick to retaliate when Leo starts to drive a wedge between him and his new wife. Don’t worry though the film ends on a happy note, even if it isn’t the one audiences would expect.

Quirky films are right up Chechik’s alley, he’s probably best known for the ultimate quirky rom com, Benny & Joon. The Right Kind of Wrong is his first feature film since 1998’s British spy adventure, The Avengers and it’s a great vehicle for his return. Chechik once again makes the audience fall for oddball characters trying to navigate life in a small town, and he does it with an amazing cast whose chemistry shines through. The supporting players include funny man Will Sasso, Kristen Hager, Raoul Bhaneja and Catherine O’Hara. The film also introduces Maya Samy and Manteen Devji as gifted siblings Pia and Ravi. Though it veers into manic-pixie-dreamgirl territory at time, you’ll be leaving the theatre with a smile.  So if you like smiling than The Right Kind of Wrong is the film for you.

Review by Vithiya Murugadas.