Drew Starkey has been receiving well-deserved reward for his efficiency in Luca Guadagnino‘s romantic drama Queer alongside Daniel Craig, and simply final yr Starkey proved his skills as a captivating romantic lead within the romantic comedy The Different Zoey. On this winter rom-com, Josephine Langford (of the After collection) performs Zoey, a cynical school scholar who doesn’t consider in romantic love, who winds up falling for soccer star Zach (Starkey). Impressed by movies like Pleasure and Prejudice and Whereas You Had been Sleeping, Zach will get amnesia after Zoey inadvertently causes him to get hit by a automotive after which mistakenly believes Zoey to be his girlfriend. Any amnesia-based rom-com requires some suspension of disbelief, however Starkey activates the appeal as Zach in The Different Zoey, managing to play off the reminiscence loss afflicting his character in a manner that isn’t overly cartoonish and making him a compelling love curiosity.

What Is ‘The Different Zoey’ About?

Zoey Miller does not consider in love. A university junior wanting ahead to pursuing a profession in pc science, Zoey sees Valentine’s Day as a hole creation of capitalism and invents an app to match individuals primarily based on compatibility and comparable pursuits. When soccer star Zach MacLaren unintentionally hits Zoey within the head with a soccer ball, he runs over to apologize. The next day, Zach exhibits up on the bookstore the place Zoey works and orders a e book however unintentionally leaves his bank card behind. He takes off on his bike, and Zoey chases him down to provide it again, however simply as she catches his consideration, a automotive reverses into him and throws him off his bike, knocking him unconscious. As Zach begins to come back to, he hears Zoey say her identify, and he confuses her along with his girlfriend, who’s additionally named Zoey and appears considerably like her.

Zach asks Zoey to accompany him to the hospital, the place she meets his mother and father, who invite her over for dinner to get to know their son’s new girlfriend. Zach is recognized with amnesia, and simply as Zoey is on the brink of come clear about her id, the physician advises her to not say something that can upset Zach, as it could worsen his situation. Anxious the reality would possibly scramble his mind even additional, Zoey pretends to be Zach’s girlfriend and agrees to tag alongside on his household ski trip after attending to know his cousin Miles (Archie Renaux), with whom she is much extra suitable. When she finds out Miles has a girlfriend, her thought of romantic compatibility is examined as she bonds with Zach, who couldn’t be extra completely different.

Drew Starkey Is a Charming Romantic Lead in ‘The Different Zoey’

The Different Zoey is hardly the following nice rom-com of the 2020s, however Langford and Starkey make a strong romantic duo, and Starkey is well the standout efficiency. Evaluating The Different Zoey to Whereas You Had been Sleeping, one other amnesia-based rom-com the movie clearly attracts from, Langford and Starkey’s chemistry might not be as robust as that of Sandra Bullock and Invoice Pullman, however Starkey is effortlessly charming as Zach, the soccer participant with a delicate aspect. Overly jaded about love and romance, Zoey initially writes him off as a dumb athlete and is way more drawn to Miles, his extra mental cousin, who’s way more suitable along with her on paper. However after her reference to Miles falls aside, she decides to provide Zach an opportunity and begins creating emotions for him.

Zoey retains her distance from Zach all through many of the journey due to her preconceived notions about him, her compatibility with Miles, and the truth that Zach already has a girlfriend, however as soon as they spend the day alone collectively, Zach looks as if the apparent selection, thanks largely to Starkey’s efficiency. In distinction with Archie Renaux, who performs Miles, Starkey makes a much more compelling love curiosity. Given the movie’s wacky premise, Starkey isn’t taking himself too severely and brings simple charisma and a powerful display screen presence that’s typically arduous to search out in male romantic leads lately. He’s gentle on his ft with nice comedic timing, and the sensitivity he brings to a fairly one-dimensional function makes him some of the entertaining components of such a regular rom-com.

Starkey’s character in Queer is afforded way more complexity than his character in The Different Zoey, however contemplating his different most notable function was in Outer Banks, by which he performs one of many fundamental antagonists, this 2023 rom-com permits Starkey to indicate off his versatility. If, earlier than Queer, you have been used to seeing him because the deranged Rafe Cameron in Outer Banks, with The Different Zoey, Starkey proves he’s simply as geared up to tackle a romantic comedy as he’s a teen drama or interval romance, and that Guadagnino was sensible to have him star alongside Daniel Craig in his newest movie.

The Different Zoey is obtainable to stream on Prime Video within the U.S.

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