You can’t have a convincing romance for the ages when your two leads have zero chemistry, and that proves to be the final straw for “Alice & Jack,” a new series coming to Channel 4. The lack of believable rapport and a contrived, forced setup delivers a project that’s completely dead in the water.
The series follows the rocky path of a relationship spanning 16 years. You can bet there will be highs and lows, but the kickoff of Alice and Jack’s love story is as bland as they come. Two young people meet in a bar, spend the night together, and embark on a romance that’s anything but meant to be.
Everything is tainted by the stiff, unnatural duo of Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Riseborough. Both are extremely talented actors but together, they are like oil and water. Their characters are polar opposites too; he’s impossibly kind and sweet, and she can manipulate him at will. It doesn’t feel like a healthy relationship, yet viewers are supposed to be rooting for these two to end up together in what’s certain to be a doomed, toxic coupling?
The lack of magic means there is no compelling reason for Alice and Jack to be together, even as the story goes on and you get to know them more. The “one that got away?” I don’t think so.
I was unable to establish any sort of emotional investment in “Alice & Jack.” Maybe it’ll get better as the season develops, but the pilot is just a weak story embraced by a limp romance.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 