Even the most devoted moviegoers can overlook a release now and then, and that seems to have been the case with the romantic comedy “Oh, Hi!” from director Sophie Brooks. The movie first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival back in January before rolling out in a limited theatrical release over the summer, competing with blockbusters like “Superman” and the new “Jurassic World.” Unsurprisingly, it fell into the shadows without much conversation.
But after scouring Netflix’s lineup for the week, I noticed it was being added today (November 22) and was intrigued to check it out based on the premise alone. Starring Molly Gordon from “The Bear” and Logan Lerman from “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” “Oh, Hi!” takes familiar rom-com tropes and twists them into something original, adding a darkly humorous edge that makes it absurdly entertaining.
“Oh, Hi!” is certainly an oddball of a movie, wandering down several winding paths without fully settling on a tone, but it’s charming in its own way, thanks to how it explores the different ways people react to relationships and the ongoing question of commitment. If you’re looking for a wildly unpredictable rom-com, here’s why “Oh, Hi!” is worth adding to your Netflix watchlist.
What is ‘Oh, Hi!’ about?
Iris and her new lover, Isaac, head to a remote country house for what should have been a romantic weekend away. But things take an unexpected turn when a tense conversation reveals that Isaac isn’t “ready for a relationship” while Iris was very much hoping he’d be her boyfriend. Caught off guard and hurt, Iris makes a rash decision that leaves her kind-of boyfriend tied to the bed.
Realising she may have pushed things too far, Iris begs him to give her twelve hours to show him they genuinely belong together, convinced she can fix everything if he’ll just stay and listen. Enlisting the chaotic help of her best friend Max (Geraldine Viswanathan) and Max’s boyfriend Kenny (John Paul Reynolds), she scrambles to orchestrate a plan that will win Isaac back.
‘Oh, Hi!’ makes for an entertaining streaming movie
Even though “Oh, Hi!” didn’t really make an impact at the box office, I’m confident the movie will see the success it deserves now that it’s landed on the biggest streaming service. Not only because Netflix subscribers usually flock to 2025 releases, but also because this romantic comedy actually feels more like a streaming original than one meant for the big screen. And yes, that’s a compliment.
“Oh, Hi!” very much sticks to the genre it’s bound to. We first see Iris and Isaac driving and singing loudly in the car, smiling and flirting, and passing a sign on the side of the road that reads “Welcome to Ohigh Falls,” which explains the movie’s title (though the pair quickly argue over what it actually means). They soon arrive at a beautiful, remote cabin in the middle of nowhere, and the movie then cuts to moments of them exploring the rooms, swimming, and having dinner.
Of course, there’s always the nagging sense that something is about to go wrong; otherwise, this would be a pretty dull flick. Sure enough, when the pair engage in intimacy using some unusual-looking chains (with Isaac strapped to the bed), he admits he isn’t looking for a relationship, just as Iris calls him her boyfriend. After their argument, she leaves him like that, and the real chaos begins.
It’s not really a “twist” or a “spoiler” that Isaac spends most of the movie strapped to the bed, because “Oh, Hi!” is really about the fear of commitment and the extreme lengths Iris goes to in order to convince him they’re meant to be. The absurdity comes from their interactions in this situation and from exploring why they each react so differently to a relationship.
There’s much to appreciate in “Oh, Hi!”, including the standout performances of Gordon and Lerman and its sharp commentary on modern romance, though the tonal swings are pretty jarring. Director Brooks seems torn between leaning into the dark comedy as the couple navigates this sticky situation and turning the movie into a genuinely romantic story with something to say. On top of that, a few strange, horror-tinged moments occasionally disrupt the charm of the movie.
Still, anyone looking for a fun movie to stream this weekend will likely have a blast with “Oh, Hi!” Not only is the comedy delightfully offbeat, but the two leads connect so well that you can’t help but root for them, even when the premise of Isaac being strapped to the bed ventures into a bit of a grey area. This is a charmingly messy romantic comedy that makes 94 minutes fly by, because you’re so eager to see how it ends.
Stream "Oh, Hi!" on Netflix now.
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