“I Love You Forever” (2024) is an American comedy-drama that deconstructs the known tropes of the rom-com genre. Sofia Black-D’Elia leads this film as Mackenzie, a young woman desperately trying to be in a stable and secure relationship. It leads her to Finn, a television reporter who charms his way into her life. Their relationship, which seems fine in the beginning, soon takes a dark turn. Through their journey, writer-director duo Cazzie David and Elisa Kalani take a shot at the perceived notions of love, romance, and companionship.
Spoilers Ahead
I Love You Forever (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
“I Love You Forever” follows Mackenzie, a 20-something law student, as she gets into a relationship with television reporter Finn. Through their relationship, the script dives into the darker themes of emotional abuse.
What happens in Sofia Black-D’Elia’s ‘I Love You Forever’?
“I Love You Forever” revolves around Mackenzie (Sofia Black-D’Elia), a 20-something law student, who has a stroke of bad luck in her relationship. She dates Jake (Raymond Cham Jr.), who behaves like he is doing her a favor by being with her. He does not respect her wishes and remains self-possessed and emotionally unavailable. Between this relationship and her studies, she forgets to buy a gift for her friend Ally’s (Cazzie David) birthday. She buys a cake last minute without realizing that Ally is lactose intolerant. Still, Ally and their close friend, Lucas (Jon Rudnitsky) forgive her since they are aware of her relationship woes. They understand that she wants to be with someone who cares for her.
Since the night is still young, Ally and Lucas decide to go to a club to celebrate Ally’s birthday. Mackenzie joins them. While in a club, Mackenzie bumps into Finn (Ray Nicholson) who charms her within a matter of minutes. Later, she texts him and receives a response. He asks her out on a date. She tells him that she gets embarrassed in front of people. So, he reserves an entire cozy restaurant specifically for them. Unlike Jake, Finn cares about her and respects her wishes. Later, during a news broadcast, Finn declares his love for her. So, it feels like she has found the picture-perfect romance she always wanted.
Mackenzie and Finn’s Relationship
Mackenzie and Finn start out on good terms since she finds him loving and supportive. However, the honeymoon phase soon ends as he shows his other side. One day, while she is in her class, he insistently texts her and expects her to respond. She doesn’t since she wants to focus on her studies. He gets angry and asks whether she doesn’t care for his feelings. Things escalate quickly to the point he even screams at her. Since she doesn’t pay him heed, he shows up at her apartment and confronts her. He blames her even though he is at fault for his obsessive behavior.
However, instead of calling him out, Mackenzie becomes apologetic since she doesn’t want to break their relationship. She feeds his ego since she doesn’t want to lose him. Soon, he shares an emotional story from his childhood and how it led to his abandonment issues and panic attacks. She feels sorry for him and agrees to love him forever. For a while, things seem to be going well for them until he becomes just as obsessive as before. He forces her to leave her friend’s birthday party. His heightened and unrealistic expectations take a toll on her mental health.
I Love You Forever (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
Throughout “I Love You Forever,” Finn presents himself as a generous and loving man. However, his behavior with Mackenzie says otherwise. He keeps manipulating her with his anxieties about the end of their relationship. He talks negatively about himself so she feels sorry for him. She stays with him just so he doesn’t get hurt. It’s not easy for her since she always has to stay on her guard, unsure when he will doubt her. Ally sees Mackenzie panicking over even a small text. She tries to make Mackenzie realize that what they have is not a real relationship.
Ally also points out that Mackenzie is with Finn because he makes her feel needed or resourceful, unlike Jake, who ignores everything she says. Eventually, Mackenzie reaches her breaking point and slaps Finn. He still finds his way back into her life. They meet at a hotel room where he behaves like the nicest guy he claims to be. However, shortly after, he gets furious over a trivial matter. He keeps using his emotional trauma as an excuse to behave carelessly around her. So, this time, she leaves him for good.
What happens to Mackenzie and Finn’s relationship?
At the end of “I Love You Forever,” Mackenzie breaks up with Finn and rides back home, feeling freer than before. However, this feeling doesn’t last long since she gets miserable for not being in a relationship. She decides to get back with Jake, but it doesn’t help either. He only reminds her of how good Finn was in the moments he was nice. In the final moments, she curls up in her bed by herself.
Finn shows up for his news broadcast, this time, with a pendant dedicated to someone named Jenny. Mackenzie screams, realizing that Finn is a master manipulator who has moved on quickly after their break-up. Finn is not as heartbroken as he made her believe. He only used her weaknesses to be in a relationship with her. So, in the end, Mackenzie and Finn do not end up together.
I Love You Forever (2024) Movie Review:
On the surface, “I Love You Forever” may seem like a breezy romance drama with some great comical bits. That is partially true since Cazzie David and Jon Rudnitsky, the supporting cast members, have great comedic timing. Their dialogues feel semi-improvised and irreverent, but they hit the comedy notes just right with their amazing rapport. Although supporting characters, they offer a levity to this drama that is quite dark underneath. The film essentially follows Mackenzie, a 20-something law student, hoping to be in a stable relationship, which she doesn’t find with her current, emotionally unavailable partner.
One night, she crosses paths with Finn, a charming TV reporter, who is as desperate for love as she is. However, it is not evident from his behavior. He is charming and he seems like her dream guy, who is keen on her wants and needs. While characteristically nice in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, he soon shows his true colors. He uses his hopeless romanticism and past traumas to shield his emotional manipulation. Through their collective journey, the film deconstructs the ‘nice guy’ myth among other known rom-com tropes.
Through Mackenzie’s character, the script explores the desire for a picture-perfect, everlasting romance popularized by the genre films. As it subverts these tropes, it offers a fairly stimulating discussion on emotional boundaries. Mackenzie’s character becomes a resonating portrait as someone stuck between the two alternate versions of reality. The script shows her messy journey toward self-liberation without judging her for her setbacks. As Finn, Ray Nicholson brings his father’s unhinged dramatic intensity and blends it with his heartthrob personality.
