India, Sept. 23 -- There is something comforting about a romantic comedy that knows exactly what it wants to be. The Love Hypothesis, adapted from Ali Hazelwood's bestselling novel, is not trying to reinvent romance or make the fake dating trope revolutionary. Instead, it takes familiar ingredients, puts them inside a Stanford science department and lets two very different people stumble their way into love. And honestly, that works.

Directed by Claire Scanlon, the film has enough humour, awkwardness and romantic tension to make it an easy watch. It is especially helped by Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman, whose chemistry gives the otherwise familiar story its biggest spark. Multiple reviews have highlighted the pair's natural dynamic, with...