Newness Netflix [2017] Review – Millennials Understanding How Relationships Work

There’s no denying the fact that erotic content sells better. Seeing Drake Doremus’s (who won big at Sundance for Like Crazy) “Newness” hit Netflix was not really surprising. I’ve had my share of disappointments when it comes to his films.”Equals” being a good idea turned into a sorry chore. I gave the film a try just to see how he can turn the dating apps scenario into something profound. To my disappointment, it just serves as a bag that does the age old-in-a-new-bottle turn.

Set in contemporary L.A, the film follows the life of two millennials who spend their weekends swiping left or right on the dating app called WINX. They aren’t acquainted with each other yet but there’s an obvious hint that they are going to. However, before they do, we see a series of their hookups that mostly end with the need for a newer person. The film portrays them as people who aren’t actually looking for connections but are both sexually hyperactive.

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So, after a whole lot of visually slick, super-awkward and sexy adventures/misadventures, Martin (Nicholas Hoult) and Gabi (Laia Costa) swipe-right into each other. Of course, both of them match each other’s energy – Both sexually and emotionally and decide to delete their profiles for good. Their romance blooms for a bit, but then they hit a stagnant stage a little too early.

Having perspired on the invention of the new-age hookups; the two are constantly looking for newer things. The narrative, instead of conflicting the two right away decides to stick out of the rule and let them explore. Martin and Gabi decide to have an open relationship where they would be honest with each other – Even if it means sleeping with other people. But of course, things don’t fall where they may. Martin’s past with his ex-wife haunts him and Gabi starts losing herself to trying to understand what is right.

All of Doremus’s films approach two emotionally distant characters having an epiphany and falling in love. The latter part mostly deals with them trying to deal with the tension that builds up. While “Like Crazy” dealt with it in a much more sensitive and simplistic sense, his last feature derailed halfway. After the midway conflict, it feels like Doremus has nothing to say.

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The last act becomes a sulky-romance that doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. Sold as a modern-day investigation of relationships, “Newness” quickly becomes a far-cry for help. It is only saved by coincidence and an underdeveloped connection that holds the characters accounted towards one-another. In doing so, Doremus’s film ends up being a self-serious tinder movie that only provides hot people fucking the shit out of each other. Until they realize that fucking is not going to do any good.

★★

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Shikhar Verma

Getting fat with the wife. Absolutely loves the all-consuming, indulgent world of cinema.