Long Story Short (film)
| Industry | Film production |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Films |
Long Story Short is a 2021 Australian romantic comedy crafted and helmed by Josh Lawson. The narrative centers on a man who, following his wedding, finds himself involuntarily leaping forward through time in brief intervals. Produced by See Pictures with funding from StudioCanal, Screen Australia, Create NSW, and Spectrum Films, the movie debuted in Australia on 11 February 2021 via StudioCanal, and later premiered in the United States on 2 July 2021 through Saban Films. Its storyline draws loose inspiration from the 2016 Indian film Baar Baar Dekho.
Plot
During a New Year's Eve celebration, Teddy accidentally kisses Leanne, a woman who later assists him during an allergic reaction. This encounter sparks a relationship that leads to an engagement, marked by Teddy presenting a ring he originally made for his mother. A mysterious woman appears to caution Teddy against squandering his life and gives him a tin can to open on their tenth anniversary.
Following their marriage, Teddy discovers he is uncontrollably skipping forward in time, witnessing key moments such as Leanne's pregnancy and the expansion of their family. While time flows normally for others, Teddy experiences these jumps alone, leading him and his friend Sam to hypothesize that achieving a "perfect day" might end this phenomenon. Meanwhile, pressures from work and unfulfilled aspirations begin to strain Teddy and Leanne’s marriage.
As the years accelerate past him, Teddy confronts a potential separation from Leanne, grapples with Sam’s cancer diagnosis, and revisits a complicated relationship with his former partner Becka. He observes significant changes in Leanne’s life, including her new relationship and the disappearance of the ring he gave her. In moments of despair, Teddy contemplates ending his life but finds renewed purpose through his daughter Talullah.
Eventually, Teddy learns of Sam’s passing and encounters the enigmatic woman once more, who shares her own experience with the time-leaping condition. On their tenth anniversary, Teddy and Leanne reunite after opening the tin can containing his father’s ring. With fresh insight, Teddy commits to balancing his career with his passion for photography while encouraging others to cherish their lives.
Cast
- Rafe Spall as Teddy
- Zahra Newman as Leanne
- Ronny Chieng as Sam
- Dena Kaplan as Becka
- Noni Hazlehurst as The Stranger
- Josh Lawson as Patrick
- Cheyenne Gunn as Talulah
- Amelia Scurrah as Young Talulah
- Genevieve Vasdeva as Younger Talulah
- Jordan Lawson as Epipen Guy
Release
The movie premiered in Australia on 11 February 2021 through StudioCanal, followed by its US release in theaters and on VOD on 2 July 2021 courtesy of Saban Films.
Box office
Globally, Long Story Short accumulated approximately $2.3 million in box office revenue.
Critical response
According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 50% based on 28 critic reviews, averaging a score of 6 out of 10. Reviewers acknowledged some inventive aspects but criticized the romantic comedy for its repetitive and foreseeable plot.
Adaptation
The Italian film Era ora (Still Time), released in 2023 and directed by Alessandro Aronadio featuring Edoardo Leo, is an adaptation inspired by Long Story Short.