Young Werther

Directed by José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço, Young Werther follows Douglas Booth’s title character as he finds himself falling for a woman (Alison Pill’s Charlotte) engaged to a successful lawyer (Patrick J. Adams’ Albert). It’s clear right from the get-go that Lourenço, armed with his own screenplay, isn’t looking to deliver a run-of-the-mill romcom, as Young Werther has been suffused with a distinctly off-kilter sensibility that’s reflected most keenly in the behavior of the oddball central protagonist – with Werther, for the most part, coming off as an unreasonably affected figure that grows less and less sympathetic (and more and more annoying) as the narrative unfolds. And while the picture’s assortment of agreeable attributes, including Nick Haight’s striking visuals and solid, compelling supporting work by both Pill and Adams, prevents one from checking out entirely, Young Werther builds towards a frequently interminable second half that’s hardly as satisfying or romantic as Lourenço has obviously intended (ie it’s virtually impossible to work up a rooting interest in Werther and Charlotte’s potential coupling) – which does, in the end, cement the film’s place as a misfire that feels like it could and should be better.

** out of ****