Oh, Hi! (2025)

By: Mike Ward on Friday, July 25

R Running Time: 94 mins

SHOULD I SEE IT?

YES

  • A modern-era romantic comedy with a twist, Oh, Hi! may call back to another movie or two, but modern audiences will find it clever and unique.

  • Logan Lerman and Molly Gordon do all they can to elevate this material and are both terrific actors.

  • Director Sophie Brooks does draw you in to the story effectively, as we aren’t quite sure how this weekend will go or what exactly will transpire between the young couple.

NO

  • Though distinctively in the comedy genre, the different elements of the story sometimes give Brooks difficulty in establishing a consistent tone or feel for her film.

  • The movie starts to fall apart in the final act, as two supporting characters who should be beneficial to the story pretty much just become filler.

  • Solely hinges upon how you view Isaac and Iris’ relationship and characters. If you don’t connect with them, then this movie is a long 90 minutes.


OUR REVIEW

For those who find today’s modern-era romantic comedies bland and lacking any bite, let me share with you Oh, Hi!, a getaway vacation romance that takes a wicked turn when the two lovers realize they don’t really know one another whatsoever.

Four months into their relationship, Isaac (Logan Lerman) and Iris (Molly Gordon) are taking a weekend vacation together to a remote cabin in upstate New York. A significant moment in their relationship, the two first have a meet-cute with a nearby strawberry vendor, then engage in carnal acts in the living room, only to later find bondage gear hanging in the bedroom closet. 

After a nice romantic dinner, the two decide to return to that bedroom closet and introduce something new with their intimacy. With Isaac cuffed and shackled to the bed, a post-coital conversation leads to a stunning realization for Iris: Isaac is not really wanting a relationship and does not see them as exclusive.

With her world rocked, Iris opts to leave Isaac chained and cuffed to the bed. In addition, she asks for 12 hours to prove to him that they belong together. With no alternatives available and no way to free himself, Isaac begrudgingly agrees.

As you might imagine, Oh, Hi! becomes Misery-lite. We may not be breaking ankles with sledgehammers, but we are definitely trying to gaslight a captive into thinking they want something they are not really interested in. There are those who will throw up their hands when Oh, Hi! makes this pivot. Others will remain intrigued. And how you view Isaac and Iris as characters will dictate just how much you accept or reject writer/director Sophie Brooks’ film.

Brooks, who developed the story with Gordon, shows an interest in exploring the depth of these characters and also playing to the absurd and ridiculous. Essentially, you have two competing movies. There are themes here hinting at Gen Z’ers being afraid of commitment. There is a touch of commentary on gender stereotypes in relationships. And there’s also snappy dialogue and comedy.  

Interestingly, when the comic relief arrives in the second half with Iris’ friends Max (Geraldine Viswanathan) and Kenny (John Reynolds) arriving to help her out, the movie weakens with that shift in tone. Brooks does have a rather clever movie here, but at times seems seems unsure in knowing how to fit all the pieces together.

Is this a comedy? A suspense/thriller? A psychological drama? The answer might be “Yes” to all of those questions. That doesn’t always mean the film feels like it exists in proper balance.

Though Lerman and Gordon are great, they way Brooks and Gordon structure their screenplay, it becomes a bit of a stretch to believe that either would believe that this is the relationship to see through long-term. They could not be more different, and not in an “opposites attract” kind of way. From what we observe, I am not sure they really click as a couple in the first place.

The success or failure of Oh, Hi! rests on whether you can invest in Isaac and Iris enough to care about all that transpires. Personally, I was amused and curious where the story was going and Lerman and Gordon are talented performers. I wanted to give the movie a chance. I wanted them to lift this out of mediocrity and into something special.

There is just enough happening here to make this a movie worth at least pursuing. Though for some, there may be a few too many moments that leave you simply saying, “Look, it’s not you … it’s me” and turning and walking away.

CAST & CREW

Starring: Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan, John Reynolds, David Cross, Polly Draper, Diana Irvine

Director: Sophie Brooks
Written by: Sophie Brooks (screenplay), Sophie Brooks, Molly Gordon (story)
Release Date: July 25, 2025
Sony Pictures Classics