Opening up Alain de Botton’s book Essays On Love for the screen, Julian Kemp’s comedy runs riot with stop-motion animation, dizzying edits and ironic freeze-frames.
Alas, the one thing it doesn’t throw at you is a satisfying emotional punch. Hugh Grant-esque newcomer Brendan Patricks does his stammering best as a suicidal bloke reviewing the five exes who brought him to a romantic nadir, and there’s a charming turn from Naomie Harris.
But some flatly drawn characters, contrived sojourns from the story and a niggling sense of smugness make this a disappointing triumph of gimmickry over heart.
