In partnership with Universal Pictures UK
We all love a movie ‘meet-cute’. This is the scene where the two young lovers first encounter one another: it’s usually a bit awkward, often deeply adorable and – if you’re lucky – pretty damn funny too. Finding Emily, the hip new romcom from the producers of Love Actually, starring Angourie Rice and Spike Fearn, ticks all three boxes (and then some).
In fact, the whole film is a clever spin on the ‘meet-cute’, as young musician Owen (Fearn) meets his dream girl at the Student Union – only to realise that she’s accidentally given him the wrong phone number. All he knows is her first name, so he sets out to find every Emily on campus, an ill-advised mission that leads him to Rice’s character. She promises to assist Owen in his quest, but – unbeknownst to him – has an ulterior motive. For him it’s a matter of the heart; for her, it’s a way to score highly on her psychology dissertation.
Featuring a host of British comic actors and comedians (including Phil Wang and Smack The Pony’s Fiona Allen), as well as bona fide Hollywood royalty Minnie Driver, Finding Emily is both sweet and funny, going to places you’d never expect. It’s also a UK music fan’s dream. Why? Let us count the ways…
It’s set in Manchester
Yes, Spike Fearn looks like the perfect cross between Liam and Noel (and, yes, his eyebrows should have their own credits). The movie has a quintessentially Mancunian vibe, representing the past, present and future of a city that’s bred some musical legends. It’s written and directed by Rachel Hirons and Alicia MacDonald respectively, with the filmmakers having described it as a “love letter to Manchester”.
Owen lives with his brother, Matt (Jack Riddiford), in a backstreet terrace like the one Morrissey and Marr hung out in before they changed the face of British music, while other scenes underline what a buzzy metropolis it’s become. Put it this way: you’ll be booking a train ticket as soon as the credits roll.
Owen has hidden talents
We mentioned above that Finding Emily represents the ‘future’ of Manchester as well as its incredible musical past and present. That’s because, as it turns out, Owen has serious musical chops in addition to looking the part. One scene sees him jump onstage at real-life legendary venue Night & Day Cafe to tear through a face-melting guitar solo, while he also writes a song for the Emily of his dreams. Owen’s mission to track her down proves to be highly controversial, as the film becomes a pin-sharp campus satire, but even his harshest critics can’t deny that the track’s a beaut.
Blossoms are in it
Ogden and the gang are Greater Manchester legends – so it’s only right that they should get a brief but memorable cameo in this love letter to the city. The Stockport lads perform, suited and booted, at the university’s end of year ball (which must be the booking coup of the year). It’s further proof, if you needed any, that Finding Emily is at the cutting-edge of everything that’s great about the capital of the north. They treat us to a couple of tracks, including – naturally – the colossal ‘There’s A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)’. Perfection.
So is Piccadilly Records
Whether you’re a Manchester native or touch down in the city for the first time after seeing this movie, a visit to Piccadilly Records is a must. It’s just one of the town’s beloved record shops, an enviable list that also includes Sifters out in Burnage (made famous, of course, by its namecheck in Oasis’ ‘Shakermaker’) and reggae and dub haven Kingbee Records in the bougie suburb of Chorlton. At one point in Finding Emily, Owen begs the boss of Piccadilly Records (played in a cracking cameo by comedian Josh Pugh) for a job. We’re saying nothing about the outcome, but the scene’s a treat for vinyl buffs.
It’s got rock ’n’ roll DNA
True, the movie is a wholesome nod to the early 2000s romcom era (looking at you, Bridget Jones’ Diary, which was also produced by Working Title, the company behind Finding Emily and Love Actually). But elements of its aforementioned campus satire are actually pretty daring, proving that Hirons and MacDonald aren’t afraid of taking a risk or two.
The soundtrack slaps
When we first meet Rice’s Emily, she’s wearing a Prince T-shirt, which tells you everything you need to know about this flick’s muso credentials. The soundtrack zig-zags from New Order to Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Billie Eilish, with Owen and Matt delivering a word-perfect rendition of Tom Tom Club’s early ‘80s new-wave/hip-hop mash-up ‘Wordy Rappinghood’.
The clubbing scenes, meanwhile, summon all the joy and chaos of a big night out. As Emily and Owen hit up Canal Street in search of the object of his affection, they knock about with drag queens, score free drinks and take in some banging dance tunes. In a nutshell, Finding Emily is as fun as that sounds.
‘Finding Emily’ is in UK cinemas May 22