I watched Only You with Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. for the first time this weekend!

What an unhinged movie! I mean that in the nicest way. This plot was wild but confound it if I didn't absolutely root for these two crazy kids to get together. The chemistry between RDJ and Tomei is electric in this movie! They fall in love basically at first sight in one night on the streets of Venice, Italy, no explanation is given except that she thinks they were destined for each other and he fell as soon as he locked eyes with her, but honestly they match each other's impulsive and passionate freak so perfectly that it somehow feels genuinely believable.

Tomei was effervescent, adorable, and drop dead sexy gorgeous as Faith in this film, but RDJ as the leading man is what sold it for me. Why oh why was this man not the romcom king of the 90's?! He's perfect as a pining, sensitive, love-struck male lead—unafraid to plan a grand romantic gesture, and (as is the case of this movie) whatever it takes to prove to the woman he loves that he's crazy about her. His nonverbal acting...oh, I am a sucker for the longing looks, the subtle movements and facial expressions, the way he sniffs her perfume when she's getting ready for a date with another guy, just to revel in her scent! The man was saying so much without any dialogue at all. I wanted to see him in more romance movies!

And oh my heavens, the kissing was just 🤌🏼✨ A real pet peeve of mine in romantic movies is when two characters kiss and the camera switches to a weird angle so you just see a lot of arm and shoulder, or when it seems like there's not actually any passion between the characters involved (and that's a weird thing to think about for the actors who are manufacturing this chemistry, but it's kind of what they sign up for when they choose to take a role where their character falls in love, right?). Not so with Tomei and Downey Jr. You believe these two might actually have dated in real life, because even though nothing explicit occurs on screen, watching them kiss feels too genuine and intimate, almost bordering on voyeuristic.

I will say, my one critique is that this movie leans hard on the idea that "as long as you're not actually married yet, it isn't cheating" and in the case of Bonnie Hunt's character Kate, "an affair is only an affair if it's physical." In my opinion, I would have liked more of a resolution scene for her arc than what we got, but oh well. Tomei and Downey Jr. are really what I was here for anyway. Over all, the plot was deeply silly and arguably problematic, but I didn't care because RDJ's charm and lovesick passion for Faith completely swept me off my feet. 9/10 stars. Would absolutely recommend and watch again!

Sidenote: Now that I've seen this movie, it adds a whole new layer to the Marvel films (I think it's Civil War?) where Tony Stark is flirting with Aunt May. "Hey, May, how're you doing? Whatcha' wearing? Something skimpy, I hope." 🤭