I have a strong eh feeling for "Netflix original films", some impress most fall flat. The original shows are good, most of the films feel like direct to video and its easy to see why the films don't come to theaters. I had some real hesitation checking When We First Met for two reasons. One, I didn't take confidence in seeing Adam Devine (who is decent in doses) as a leading man. Second, I found the time loop/reliving the same day storyline a little stale since there's been some recent frequent takes on it. Oddly and surprisingly, I had a good time with this one.

The film is about a man named Noah (Devine),who meets the girl of his dreams at a Halloween Party. Three years pass and he has to watch her get engaged to another man. He soon discovers that returning to a photo booth at a jazz bar allows him to travel back in time and relive that Halloween and change his future. Naturally, things go wrong as he tries to woo the girl that he wants most and we get a nice laugh out of Noah's trials and tribulations.

The film had a few funny moments. Some of them caused me to laugh out loud. Devine really worked as a leading man, a lot of the funny would not have been possible with out his unique delivery. The time loop nature of the film wasn't so annoying. I mean, there were times where I felt the story dragged out but it wasn't so easy to predict how Noah was going to get the right formula to end up with the girl he loves. Overall, I can't deny that I was interested the whole way through.

I do have a criticism that is kind of unrelated to the film. Why are internet stars like Andre Bachelor (who got famous off of vines) in so many movies now? I saw him do one with Logan Paul ffs. Yeah, lets keep it it real actors please. A fun time overall, I want to see Netflix bring more quality programming and not some hot garbage (Cloverfield Paradox, I'm looking at you).

7/10

"When We First Met" is one of the latest made for Netflix films and it's one that is easy to skip. Why? Because the film is derivative....like "Big" and "Groundhog Day" combined...particularly "Groundhog Day". Had it been more original, I would have enjoyed it so much more.

When the film begins, Noah (Adam Devine) and Avery (Alexandra Daddario) meet at a party and hit it off. They get along so well on their first night together than you might assume they'd spend the rest of their lives together...but it's not to be. Jump ahead a few years and now she's marrying some other guy and Noah's been relegated to friend status. Then, through the use of a magical photo booth, Noah's able to time travel and, perhaps, make Avery love him. As I said....it's much like those two movies.

Adam Devine has been very hot in movies recently and you like him or you love him. I find his characters generally annoying....but it might be my age, as he and his shtick are clearly targeted towards twenty-somethings. This combined with a very familiar plot make this one I'd just as soon skip....but younger audiences might find a bit more to enjoy....particularly if you are looking for a date flick and aren't being too choosy.

It's Halloween 2014. Avery Martin (Alexandra Daddario) and Noah Ashby (Adam DeVine) meet at a college costume party. Three years later, Noah is attending Ethan (Robbie Amell) and Avery's engagement party. Noah still pines for Avery and gets badly drunk. Avery's photographer friend Carrie Grey (Shelley Hennig) gives him a ride. While at the same photo booth as 3 years ago, he makes a wish and travels back in time.

I'm surprised to say that I liked the pairing the first time around. This is Groundhog Day except Noah gets worst and worst. The longer it goes on, the less one likes the coupling. In a way, the constant reversal devalues their chemistry and demeans Avery. The jump forwards are often cringe-worthy. There is an obvious out with this situation which is also unacceptable. If Daddario DeVine keeps losing chemistry, DeVine Hennig never had it in the first place. Of course, it resorts to that exit but it doesn't really set them up before that final time. The structure, the casting, and the plot in general keep blowing headwinds against the movie. A good early start fades and the movie finally goes wrong. There is a functional concept but it can't go full douche. It needs some major changes to make this work although I can see how this concept can work. It just doesn't work here.