“Noli & Owen Are Fine” follows a pair of lifelong friends who made a pact in high school to marry each other if neither of them is taken by 35. With the deadline closing in, the only way forward is to risk the friendship or lose it.
Love is at the center of “Noli & Owen Are Fine,” but its messaging can really be applied to anything in life. What do Noli and Owen do? They overlook the one thing that’s been standing right in front of them: each other. We all take things for granted — relationships, our health, food, water, housing — until we no longer have them. Change in any form is scary, and director Rachelle Zalter explores that fear in a relatable way.
“Half the time we’re on these dates, I wish I was just hanging out with you.”
The early stages of the film are akin to those of other 2026 releases, “40 Dates and 40 Nights” and “Floating Carousel.” The characters go through a collage of first dates that show just how awkward modern dating can be. First encounters featuring third-wheel moms, hand fetishes, tandem bike rides and more provide much of the initial comedy. Zalter and Maxie Dara’s screenplay has a natural progression by contrasting these bizarre dates with Noli and Owen’s time together.
And as much as this is a generic romance, it’s also a journey of individual growth. Zalter and Dara don’t write perfect characters. They make you care about both Noli and Owen, while also accepting their very real faults. This allows the film to avoid getting trapped by “love story” tropes. As with any rom-com, there are some. But this “love story” actually feels a lot more realistic than traditional Hollywood entries.
There is plenty of humor within “Noli & Owen Are Fine,” but it also doesn’t shy away from seriousness. Viewers are meant to laugh at all of the bad dates; they’re also meant to bask in the discomfort of starting over. Noli and Owen reach a point of no return in the middle of the 94-minute runtime. This is where the movie really hits its stride, with Maxie Dara (Noli) and Brett Wolfe’s (Owen) performances elevating the material.
Dara makes Noli full of personality, as she is overly charismatic and caring but also sassy. Wolfe’s delivery is more straightforward. Because his character is often reserved, Dara’s performance is what brings the energy to “Noli & Owen Are Fine.” Despite the two being such different people, the actors make the friendship feel organic and natural. After all, that’s how love works a lot of the time. Also appearing are Scarlett Strongman (Hazel), Jordan Cole (Chris) and Emily Burke (Viv).
Brandon Canning takes a bare-bones approach to the cinematography and editing. During conversations between characters, close-up shots are used to capture every spoken word and facial expression. Most of the time, these shots remain static. However, subtle shakes and movements are used to make every scene feel lived-in rather than empty.
“Noli & Owen Are Fine” is a story about waiting. Rachelle Zalter delivers a hopeful message in her debut feature: sometimes what you’ve always wanted has been staring you right in the face and you just haven’t seen it.
Rating: 4 out of 5
