I did not want to watch this film, at least in theaters. I was going to wait until it came out on streaming when, surprisingly enough, I went to AMC Screen Unseen for the first time, and it was the film they decided to play. It was not a bad first go around with this unique event, and I can not say it was a bad romcom. However, a lot is holding it back, but not enough to remove its charm.
To start the positives, Melissa Barrera and Tommy Dewey had great (most of the time) chemistry and delivered delightful performances as Laura and Monster. Without them, this film would have succumbed to the weight of steady flaws, but Barrera and Dewey carry it past the finish line.
The film was not that funny, despite being a romcom - come on - but there were many chuckle-worthy moments, and one that had me laughing.
I also thought they nailed the makeup of the beast and the costume and set designs, specifically when it came to the play Laura's ex-boyfriend, Jacob, put on. It was impressive, and Brielle Hubert, Sarah Dawn Hamlin, Matthew Simonelli, and the makeup department deserve credit.
The final positive I can give is that it has the charm visible from a mile away. It is the main reason I can appreciate the positives more than the negatives. No matter its issues, its heart is in the right place.
Even though I think it is a decent watch, the negatives are noticeable and still worth mentioning, but I will keep them as simple and sweet as possible, though I may come across as critiquing the movie more than it deserves - so you know.
First, despite Barrera's committed performance, Laura is not entirely compelling. She yells and whines many times throughout the film - granted, she is taking in her breakup with Jacob and a cancer diagnosis, but it becomes annoying within the first ten minutes. That sucks because Laura is the lead character, the person we need to be rooting for. She is also incredibly, somewhat unrealistically, naive to the fact that Jacob is Mr. Wrong, enough so that Monster calls out his evident flaws at multiple intervals.
Speaking of Monster, the relationship between him and Laura is unbalanced. By that, I mean, for the most part, they felt like bickering step-siblings than actual potential romantics. Moments are present where they felt like lovers, sometimes to the ridiculous extreme, and they truly stood out in a good way. Nevertheless, I was not impressed with how they executed their relationship.
Speaking of unbalanced, the movie as a whole is. It wants to be a cliched romantic comedy, sometimes a significant drama, other times serious romantic drama, and at parts, a horror film. Regarding the horror film angle, besides the makeup, Monster acts normal, outside of growling and throwing items. Why couldn't they do what "Lisa Frankenstein" did and never take the story seriously?
In conclusion, "Your Monster" is not a film you need to drop everything you are doing and see in theaters. It is easy to wait until streaming, but it may be worth watching if you like romantic comedies. I can classify myself as a fan of that genre, and even though I do not think it is the perfect trip to the movies, it is deeply flawed but unexpectedly charming.
Technically, the performances, the sets, the costumes, and the makeup of Monster make the technical score an easy 7/10.
Once again, it is not perfect. The enjoyment score I give it may not represent the fun it offers, but the flaws can be frustrating, and Laura is surprisingly annoying - or it could be because I was not expecting it to be the movie played at AMC Screen Unseen. However, Barrera and Dewey's chemistry saves it to the point the enjoyment score is a 6/10. Its problems are not effortless to overlook, but its appeal is undeniable.
