In the SXSW player “Love Language,” a young woman left at the altar finds side gig writing wedding vows for brides-to-be.
In her own way, the film’s leading lady Chloe Grace Moretz has also been pivoting for more than a decade — playing in the world of pedigreed indies (Luca Guadagnino’s “Suspira” and “Greta” opposite Isabelle Huppert) and bare-knuckle action (“Shadow in the Cloud”).
“Love Language” is something of a return for Moretz, playing a modern young woman in a romance genre title for what she says is the first time since 2014’s “If I Stay.” Writer-director Joey Power brought her back for an offering to the rom-com gods, which both say are underserved in the current marketplace.
“These kinds of movies are the ones I watch most as a viewer. Especially from the ’80s and ’90s. They’re so soothing, and hit you in a place in your heart. You feel seen and heard, you laugh a little and cry a little,” said Moretz.
The actor plays Lou, brutally dumped on her wedding day and struggling to get by as a social media copywriter for a tortilla chip company. When she delivers world-class wedding vows for her best friend (perpetual scene-stealer Billie Lourd), Lou finds herself in the midst of a lucrative new hustle creating teary moments for hopeful couples.
Things get complicated when a new client (Isabel May) hires Lou, who then discovers her betrothed is a college friend and longtime crush (Manny Jacinto). Complicated feelings arise, as does another eligible bachelor for Lou in Dash (Anthony Ramos). The dynamic creates a rare love rectangle, as all parties sort out who they are and what they want.
Power conceived of the project while experiencing “existential writer dread,” wondering if he’d ever get a film off the ground again after two previous features. Pacing his bedroom, his eyes fell to a copy of his own wedding vows framed on the wall.
“I was standing there mulling over my entire life, and I started to read the vows and thought they were quite good. I thought, if this writing thing falls apart, I could fall back on asking people for money to write their wedding vows,” he said.
Moretz was refreshed by Power’s script, and the fact that Lou “is not your perfect rom-com girl. She’s kind of fucked up. She’s got good intentions but she’s really misguided. And a little narcissistic. Just a little.”
The character’s journey is informed by what Power called a “mini epiphany” he had when entering his thirties.
“The mistakes I made in my twenties, a lot of them had to do with this belief that if something was going to be right it had to be hard. I had to sweat for it, and it created a chasm between the idea of what I wanted and what actually felt good,” Power said. “Chloe’s character has a hard time recognizing the thing that’s right in front of her because of what she thinks she wants.”
What’s currently in front of Moretz is a project in Spain, the action comedy “Mister,” which pairs her with Walton Goggins in a father-daughter adventure. Back in Texas, “Love Language” will premiere on Monday in the narrative spotlight section. The film is for sale, repped by CAA.
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