The Other Zoey Synopsis: Highly intelligent computer major Zoey Miller is uninterested in romantic love, but her life is turned upside down when Zack, the school’s soccer star, gets amnesia and mistakes Zoey for his girlfriend.
Zoey (Josephine Langford) is a college student who does not believe in traditional love. She believes relationships only work if the two people are compatible with shared interests. In fact, she’s developed an app to help people find their match based on this particular algorithm. However, her belief system is challenged when Zach (Drew Starkey), the school’s star soccer player, gets amnesia and mistakes Zoey for his girlfriend, who is also named Zoey.
Rather than set the story straight, Zoey decides to go along with the misunderstanding to get closer to Zach’s cousin Miles (Archie Renaux), who seems to share not only the same interests as her, but also her cynical views on love.
My sister kept asking if I had seen The Other Zoey yet, so I finally decided to give it a watch. I wasn’t expecting much, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! The Other Zoey has some genuinely funny moments, is chock full of rom-com references, and channels the spirit of While You Were Sleeping (one of my favorites).
Just like While You Were Sleeping, the premise of The Other Zoey is pretty implausible. A woman pretending to be someone she’s not will eventually be caught or found out, and Zoey is supposedly a highly intelligent young woman, so obviously, she is aware of this, but her attraction to Miles is strong enough for her to ignore the insanity of her actions. There are also a lot of holes in this movie, common sense that is conveniently forgotten, but the movie is so charming that it’s easy to overlook its flaws.
Josephine Langford is a likable lead. Zoey, she’s book-smart but flails where it matters. Pretending to be Zach’s soccer playing girlfriend, yet she can’t answer the simple question of “What position do you play?” – one would think she would have at least Googled some soccer facts to keep up her charade. And the real Zoey can snowboard, but this Zoey cannot. Thankfully, Zoey’s contradiction coverups satisfy Zach’s family – none of whom have ever met the real Zoey. Again, this is where you’ve got to suspend your disbelief. Otherwise, you’re not likely to enjoy this movie.
Langford shares some palpable chemistry with Drew Starkey, even before she has to pretend to be his girlfriend. Zach is by far the more interesting love interest. He’s dry and witty and challenges Zoey’s belief that love can only succeed if you find a like-minded partner. His scenes with Langford are both sweet and funny, and the movie’s emotional stakes are only revealed once they actually start spending time together. Sure, Miles is the obvious choice for Zoey – he’s smart, handsome, has plenty in common with Zoey, and doesn’t buy into traditional love either – but how fun would a rom-com be if our heroine ended up with the obvious choice?
The Other Zoey may be formulaic but it succeeds with affable leads and old-school rom-com vibes. If a romantic comedy can make me laugh and swoon? It’s going to be one I want to watch again.
Watched: 07/16/2024
Notable Song: Glimmer by Nicole Serrano
