Movie Review: 'Float' starring Andrea Bang and Robbie Amell

Float (2024)

Directed by Sherren Lee

Written by Jesse LaVercombe, Sherren Lee

Starring Andrea Bang, Robbie Amell, Michelle Krusiec

Release Date February 9th, 2024

Published March 18th, 2024

Float stars Andrea Bang as Waverly, a woman living a lie. She's told her parents that she has gone to Vancouver for an important doctoral apprenticeship that will move her along in her career. In reality, Waverly has gone to Oregon to stay with her artist aunt, Rachel (Michelle Krusiec), while she tries to figure out who she is and what she wants. It's while lying to her parents and having a minor existential crisis that Waverly meets Blake, a handsome local man who raises chickens and cares for his teenage sister. Blake is Rachel's neighbor which is how Waverly knows about his gentle way with chickens.

Blake is also a lifeguard and when he learns that Waverly doesn't even know how to float, let alone swim, he offers to teach her. It's a blatant attempt to get to spend time alone with her and Waverly is definitely on that wavelength. That said, this is a Nicholas Sparks-esque romance so the two lovers cannot have a clear path to happiness. We already know about Waverly's lies but we will come to learn about Blake's flaws and what has kept him in this small town and generally out of long term relationships. It's a lot of sticky emotions about his late parents and his little sister and somehow it all may prevent him from being with Waverly.

For her part, Waverly is excited for the relationship with Blake. She's open to taking the relationship to the bedroom rather quickly, and is hurt by his reticence. He suspects she's not sticking around in this small tourist town and thus is hesitant in pursuing a relationship that goes much past flirting and a little making out. They have fun together but it is clear that she will need to work out her lies and he will need to learn how to grapple with his past in a healthier way than complete denial and micro-managing the life of his rebellious little sister.

On the fringes of the main story of Float are a series of colorful supporting players. This includes a couple, played by Rukiya Bernard and Ghazal Azarbad, who own a local bar. Rachel works as a mural artist for the couple and Waverly takes a job as a bartender and finds a talent for tasty drinks and promoting the bar. She might make a good small town bar manager, though her parents would certainly have something to say about that. Waverly's parents do have a role to play, even as they are a little more than a function of the plot than genuine characters. There appearance in the movie is not bad in any way, it's just very obvious that they are there to provide an obstacle and not so much to participate as actual characters.

That's a minor criticism however as so much of Float is charming, romantic, and pleasant to look at. Float is not a funny movie but the romance is palpable and compelling. Andrea Bang and Robbie Amell have a smoldering chemistry. They are a beautiful couple, they definitely pass the eye test, you want to see them together. It's not an explosive romance, but it's solid, dependable, a durable romantic chemistry that's easy to appreciate and enjoy. If you enjoy romantic fiction, Float is a good example of the genre, a gentle, sweet, romantic movie. Mostly uncomplicated, easy to follow, and featuring two beautiful lead performers, Float is as easy to recommend as it is easy to forget about after you see it. That's not a bad thing, not all movies are meant to be memorable, some are merely a pleasant distraction. Float is a pleasant distraction.

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