Haley Lu Richardson is just one reason to enjoy “Love at First Sight”, an unexpectedly contagious romantic comedy from director Vanessa Caswill. The 28-year-old actress has shined in a number of independent features since debuting in 2014 and she remains one of the most compelling young faces in modern cinema. She again shows why in this sweet but not saccharine Netflix Original that’s based on Jennifer E. Smith’s 2011 novel “The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight”.

Interestingly, there’s nothing especially groundbreaking about the movie’s framework. Its premise is fairly familiar and the story plays out pretty much how we expect it to. But Caswill and screenwriter Katie Lovejoy do something that is essential for movies like this to work – they create and develop likable characters who we genuinely care about. And that attachment makes it easy to invest in their budding relationship, even if it’s a little by-the-books.

While its hokey title may give you pause, “Love at First Sight” isn’t as much about the warm and fuzzies of love as it is about its meaning and the possibility of its inextricable link to fate. Yes it’s plenty sweet and charming. But Caswill wants us to see her characters as real people rather than stock quality rom-com cut-outs. So she presents them as real people by focusing more on their situations and circumstances rather than the usual genre schmaltz.

The story begins on December 20th which the narrator (played by Jameela Jamil) tells us is the busiest day of the year for JFK airport in New York. Jamil represents fate itself and she routinely pops up to play her part, sometimes as a flight attendant, a bartender, a bus driver, etc. She introduces us to Hadley Sullivan (Richardson), a 20-year-old NYU student and Oliver Jones (Ben Hardy), a 22-year-old Englishman. Unexpected circumstances lead to them meeting while waiting on their flight to London.

Hadley is on her way to her divorced father’s (Rob Delaney) wedding. Oliver is heading back home to attend a Shakespearean themed “living memorial” for his dying mother (Sally Phillips). Both are navigating tough family situations and both find solace (and maybe even true love) in each other after the stars align during their seven-hour flight across the Atlantic.

Of course you all know how these things work. It’s never that easy at first. In this case the two go their separate ways after customs and the narrator is quick to remind us that the statistics (and the movie loves sharing statistics) aren’t in the potential couple’s favor. But don’t forget about the craftiness of fate and its ability to defy mere facts and figures.

The movie could have easily taken the more sappy conventional route. But to its credit, it does allow Hadley and Oliver some time away from the romantic angle. It’s welcomed time spent focused on their individual storylines and allowing them the space to grow as characters. Don’t get me wrong. It’s still very much a love story at its heart. But it might surprise you with how much attention it gives to other things.

“Love at First Sight” may not work for the curmudgeon at heart. But it’s the kind of lean and savory comfort food that certain others are sure to find tasty. Clocking in at under 90 minutes, the movie never overstays its welcome. Yet I do wish more time was given to Hadley and Oliver hammering out the feelings they have for each other. Still Richardson and Hardy have a sparkling chemistry and the movie gleams whenever they’re on screen together. They’re authentic, relatable, and all the motivation we need to see their story play out. “Love at First Sight” is now streaming on Netflix.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS