Materialists has been a big success for A24, even if its marketing was hiding a far more introspective movie than fans were expecting. It also features Chris Evans‘ return to the romantic drama/comedy, which many of his fans had been clamoring for. tt’s also seen a spike in streaming for Evans’ other romantic roles—especially Ghosted, which saw him falling in love with a spy played by Ana de Armas. But Evans’ fans might have missed his directorial debut, Before You Go. Before You Go features a premise that’s tailor made for a romantic drama, as Evans’ Nick Vaughan has a chance encounter with Brooke Dalton (Alice Eve), who through a series of escalating events has been stranded in New York.
Nick and Brooke spend the night traveling through New York, growing close to each other while also confronting the ghosts of their past. It was also based on a script Evans had read earlier in his career, and it stuck with him so much that he wanted to direct it. “I just wanted the script that I was reading to align a little bit more with the movie I had in my head,” he told USA Today right before production started. While Before We Go was met with critical scorn and ended up flopping at the box office, it’s a great display of Evans’ talents as a actor and director.
Chris Evans and Alice Eve’s Chemistry Fuels ‘Before We Go’
Before We Go is one of the films that takes place within a single day, paying homage to Richard Linklater‘s films—particularly Before Sunrise, which features a similar plot. It also features some compelling chemistry between Evans and Eve as their characters start to grow close to each other. They joke about a pay phone being a “time machine,” wind up performing a musical number, and stumble into a wedding. But they also have some genuine emotional moment, as well.
At the aforementioned wedding, Nick runs into his ex and learns that she’s pregnant and starting a new family; he tells Brooke that he was supposed to be married at that point. In turn, she also reveals that the reason she came to New York is because she’s considering leaving her husband since he was carrying on an affair behind her back. It’s a truly raw, emotional moment, and both Evans and Eve let their body language do the talking. You can see the regret in their eyes and the relief spreading through their faces as they talk about their secrets. Another scene features Brooke and Nick talking about meeting the right person, and he has a surprising response: “Well… if I ever got that lucky. I probably wouldn’t plan on letting her down.” It’s a moment that works thanks to Evans’ performance, showing that his best roles are when he plays a salt-of-the-earth guy, which Materialists utilizes to great effect.
‘Before We Go’ Wasn’t Well-Recieved, but Proves Chris Evans’ Talent as a Director
Though Before We Go thrives on the romantic bond between Chris Evans and Alice Eve, critics didn’t show it the same affection when it hit theaters. Most of the criticism lies with the plot, which critics said was fairly cliché and shallow; the most damning indictment comes from Slate, who compared the movie to “dating someone who only talks about their ex.” It’s not an unfair assessment: most of the film’s events take place due to the extreme coincidence of Brooke being mugged in New York, Nick running out of money, and both their cell phones dying. Also, out of all the weddings in New York, they happen to run into one where Nick’s ex is attending? It’s less serendipity and more lazy screenwriting at that point.
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But where Before You Go excels is in Evans’ direction. He captures the hustle and bustle of New York City with ease and its strange, brightly lit beauty at night (considering most of the film takes place at night, that’s saying something.) Evans even said he’d like to return to directing one day when he appeared at New York Comic Con in 2023:
“I’ve been looking. Unfortunately, I’m not much of a writer—I wish I were—so that means I’m at the mercy of finding something. And unfortunately, those great scripts aren’t just lying around. So I’m always on the hunt to find something, because I really did love the experience.”
Anyone who loves Chris Evans’ rom-coms or wants to see a different side of his talents should check out Before We Go, especially if they’re simply searching for a flick for a cozy movie night.
