The Hating Game has all the right ingredients one needs for a steamy romance. Adapted from the best-selling novel by Sally Thorne, The Hating Game plays like someone forgot to turn on the heat. The romcom plays with two beloved genre tropes: combining an office relationship with that of an enemies-to-lovers romance. Directed by Peter Hutchings from a screenplay by Christina Mengert, The Hating Game is an enjoyable romantic comedy that has a pair of charming characters in a slightly undercooked and tame enemies-to-lovers romance.
The story follows Lucy Hutton (Hale) and Joshua Templeman (Stowell), rival co-workers at a publishing house called Bexley & Gamin. Lucy is a people-pleasing, nice, and idealistic employee who believes in the power of literature. Conversely, Josh is a corporate scrooge. As Lucy suggests in the opening narration, she and Josh never got along and have, in turn, spent the majority of their time as co-workers in a hating game. The hating game has a few moving parts — intense staring, Lucy messing with Josh’s neat and tidy desk, Josh getting distracted when Lucy applies her bright red lipstick, and occasionally getting into intense fights about grammar in front of other co-workers.
For the most part, the film is very enjoyable largely due to Mengert’s quippy and endearing screenplay. Hale and Stowell are pleasant enough leads who fit their respective roles quite nicely. Although the film feels somewhat like a spinoff for Hale’s character from Pretty Little Liars at times, especially considering both characters have an affinity for literature and work in the publishing industry. Stowell is also not so far removed from the plethora of men who appeared on the show, too. A feature film like The Hating Game should not feel like an extended episode of a TV show, and yet it does.
A large part of what should make The Hating Game entertaining is the enemies-to-lovers romance, which is largely rushed through. It quickly becomes stale as the film settles into a very predictable romance, one consisting of misunderstandings and a finale where the leads inexplicably kiss in front of a crowd. Much of Lucy and Josh’s banter and supposed “hate” for each other isn’t given much room to breathe, and there is little build-up to their first kiss in an elevator. The film breezes through their relationship before it gets to that pivotal moment and the few moments of intimacy are too far and few between.
While there is considerable attention given to developing the emotional connection between the characters, The Hating Game isn’t spicy enough. Perhaps this is simply the case of being an accurate representation of the book (which this reviewer has not read), but the lack of passion in the film leaves a lot to be desired. However, Hale and Stowell have great chemistry and their banter is very cute and endearing. The actors also have great comedic timing, though the overall humor in the romcom is somewhat lacking as well. The actors manage to get a few chuckles out of the audience and will have everyone believe their characters belong together. They also have great physical chemistry, but much of the film's heat comes from the leading man.
Stowell is notable because he leans into playing a contemporary Mr. Darcy with his misunderstood affections for Lucy making him a desirable romantic lead. There is a reason brooding men who can’t handle their love for a woman sell so well in the romance genre. Thanks to his performance, he really does bring a lot of the couple's vibrancy to life. Mengert’s script also gives Stowell a lot to work with to give Josh’s plight more meaning. The Hating Game is a solid film overall with a great script that keeps the film afloat for its nearly two-hour runtime. The characters remain interesting throughout, with careful consideration into developing a relationship worth rooting for. The film is very pleasant and manages to succeed in what many romantic comedies often fail to do — be entertaining and worth revisiting.
The Hating Game opens in select theaters and is available on VOD Friday, December 10. The film is 103 minutes long and is rated R for some sexual content and language.
