Written and directed by Kevin Walls, after an impulsive one-night stand leads to an unexpected pregnancy, two flatmates must confront who they are, and who they want to be, before the baby arrives. Starring: James Rottger, Elle Watson, Gail Watson, Andrew Rodger, Terry Nelson and Zoë Lerman.
Now is basically the perfect time for some good old fashioned rom-com energy, easy entertainment, slightly cheesy vibes, good times, emotional journeys, simple humour and ultimately, hope. That’s exactly what you get with Premature, Kevin Walls brings the old-school formula into modern Glasgow. Being set in Glasgow is a great start right out of the gate, it’s always refreshing to have a romance set somewhere which isn’t LA, London, New York or Paris. The other element you get hit with immediately is that quintessential rom-com atmosphere, it’s light and a little cheeky, with plenty of awkwardness and clumsiness.
There’s also, in very Scottish fashion, a frankness to the dialogue early on which is charming. Another key element which comes in early and is nicely consistent throughout is the chemistry between James Rottger and Elle Watson, it’s the rock at the core of Premature. The way they so naturally create a genuine connection between their characters and inject the comedy without feeling overly saccharine is well done. Another element they capture really well is the hustle of young parents, having kids is an endless expense so it’s great to see that become a real part of the story, giving a lovely touch of authenticity.
The rest of the story has a good dose of chaos, and relatable panic but it can eventually stray into stereotypical territory. Ultimately, while it does feel heartfelt, it becomes extremely familiar and that originality it held in the earlier scenes, doesn’t quite follow it all the way to the end. It can also take a rather dour turn in the latter scenes, and there wasn’t a strong enough foundation for that to be executed perfectly sincerely.
However, it’s well shot, the cinematography, also from Kevin Walls, stands out. It has a great clarity and doesn’t attempt to add a rosy lens, it keeps its feet firmly on the ground, to give Premature an authentic everyday feel. Rom-coms can often feel overly softened so it’s great to see the aesthetic set a more dramatic foundation. It also moves well, coming in at just under ninety minutes, and the progression is solid.
Premature is absolutely one for the rom-com fans but it also has something to offer a wider audience. Kevin Walls makes a sincere effort to have fun with this film and not become too serious but also to create something authentic and not removed from reality, as romance so often can become. James Rottger and Elle Watson both give terrific performances and have a lot of charm to bring to the film, as well as a very natural chemistry. It’s heartfelt and sweet, making for a really solid debut feature from Kevin Walls.
