Netflix’s ‘Irreplaceable You’ Is Flawed But Filled With Feeling [Review]

Movies should be seen on the big screen. Comedies are buoyed by the laughter that surrounds you, horror films benefit from shared gasps in the darkness and well-shot action and sci-fi blooms into the larger scale. The one exception may be all-out weepies like “Irreplaceable You,” which are best seen in the privacy of one’s own home with an unlimited supply of tissues. This Netflix original is the perfect film to debut on streaming, where’s there no self consciousness about how loud you’re sniffling or how swollen your face is. But for all the tears, “Irreplaceable You” isn’t a standard melodrama; it infuses real humor where your laughs are just as loud as your hiccuping sobs. It would serve its audience better if it paid more attention to a stronger structure and a believable plot, but its flaws don’t keep it from being affecting for those who like their love stories on the lachrymose side.

This is a romance with both figurative and literal bite. Bess Wohl‘s script avoids being overly saccharine sweet by injecting jokes that begin in its first moments, which share that Abbie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) dies. With that revelation, there’s little suspense about the destination of “Irreplaceable You,” but there’s surprising joy in the journey. She and Sam (Michiel Huisman) have been together since they were kids on a field trip to the New York Aquarium. As adults, they’re celebrating their engagement and planning their wedding with a baby on the way when they learn that Abbie’s symptoms aren’t pregnancy. Instead, she’s terminally ill with little time left.

In addition to her time spent in treatment, Abbie’s last days are devoted to trying to find Sam’s next wife. He’s a dorky professor who’s never dated anyone but her, and she wants to guarantee his happiness after she’s gone. She also shares her experiences with a support group led by Mitch (Steve Coogan), where she bonds with fellow attendee Myron (Christopher Walken). As Abbie gets sicker, she worries about what will happen to Sam and tries to prepare for what we know she can’t escape.

Abbie and Sam’s story is equal parts charming and tragic thanks to the chemistry between Mbatha-Raw and Huisman. They’re believable as a couple and their feelings are so authentic that they can’t help but inspire emotion in the audience, even if Abbie’s actions and the plot’s turns often feel manufactured. I’d have been happier if the film hadn’t devoted many scenes to Abbie’s search for her own replacement, instead spending more time with her support group populated by characters played by Kate McKinnon and Glenn Fleshler. This is actress Bess Wohl‘s screenwriting debut, and beyond issues with the concept as a whole, the story sometimes leaves threads behind without carrying them through to the end. However, she has a real sense for dialogue that gets genuine laughs even as you’re grabbing Kleenex. The debut from “Veep” director Stephanie Laing is all over the place tonally, but if you’re someone that deals with grief by making inappropriate jokes, the swings will feel familiar.

As Truvey said, “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.” If you agree (and can name the source of the quote), “Irreplaceable You” can likely overcome its faults in your watery eyes. If not, this is likely a film that you could see in your Netflix recommendations and start a conversation about the problems with its algorithm. [C+]