One of the first movies to return to theaters since quarantine, “The Broken Hearts Gallery” is a sweet, often hilarious glimpse into the lives of young adults as they try to manage work, friendships and the inevitability of heartbreak. Focusing on the life and career of Lucy Gulliver, played by Geraldine Viswanathan, “The Broken Hearts Gallery” brings her own personal story of tragedy and ultimately lasting love to the big screen—one that inspires, entertains and has a good number of laughs along the way.
QUIRKY AND RELATABLE
This movie spends a great deal of time focusing on the most relatable moments of young adult life. “The Broken Hearts Gallery” starts with Lucy losing her job at her dream gallery because of a hilarious, drunken blunder that leaves her penniless and depressed. However, she soon meets a charming, brooding man named Nick, played by Dacre Montgomery, who has a dream of his own. Both lost and looking for meaning, Lucy and Nick find that art and life-long goals are worth the pursuit, friends are essential to happiness and love might just be worth the risk of heartbreak.
REPRESENTATION
Not only is the film an enjoyable watch, but an important one as well. While romantic comedies are often shrouded by clichés, stereotypes and white-washing, “The Broken Hearts Gallery” focuses on diversity in a smart and subtle way. With an Indian leading actress and positive representation of the LGBTQ community, this movie portrays not only love authentically, but life as well. Though lighthearted in nature, this movie nods toward the need for diversity in the genre and the end result is a positive one.
APPRECIATION FOR ART
While the central focus of the film is romance and young love, “The Broken Hearts Gallery” also spends a great deal of screen time emphasizing the need for art in a person’s life. Whether it be renovating and designing a hotel or creating a space for others to heal, art is seen as something integral for wounded hearts and anyone seeking refuge from both tragedy and loneliness. As art is often not taken seriously or seen as an attainable career, this movie focuses on both the challenges of pursuing art and its beautiful, rewarding payoff, making the movie even more encouraging for creative viewers.
HAPPY ENDINGS
From the movie title alone, there seems to be a heavy amount of sadness and tragedy found in this supposed romantic comedy, yet humor and happiness thrive in the final scenes. While love seems to be found in an assortment of ways by the end, audiences are certain to enjoy it as Lucy, Nick and their gang of quirky friends find community and acceptance, alongside the inevitability of joy. While bordering on cliché, viewers will be more than happy with the conclusion of the movie, with a number of laugh-out-loud moments and plenty of sappy, romantic scenes that cannot be missed. Even in its predictability, “The Broken Hearts Gallery” offers a fun, enjoyable return to the movie theater.
