--- title: "Finding Emily: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/finding-emily/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/finding-emily" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Finding Emily (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 14 reviews: 10 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like it. Ten of the fourteen reviews are positive, and the praise gathers around Alicia MacDonald’s direction, which several call lively and quick with a joke, and around the two leads, whose chemistry is mentioned again and again. The Manchester setting and the soundtrack come up often, and a handful of critics greet the film as proof that the British romcom is not finished. The reservations are sharper than the average suggests, and they split cleanly by geography. The British reviews from May are warm almost without exception; the American reviews that follow in August are cooler. The Hollywood Reporter finds little charm or chemistry in the leads and calls the film’s defence of romcom conventions cynical, while The AV Club objects to how it treats the feminist reactions it depicts. Even admirers concede the final act is formulaic. The spread runs from 30 to 85, wider than the number lets on. ## The Telegraph — Tim Robey Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2026. The critic is charmed by this bright and truly funny reinvention of the British romcom, crediting the debut director's inspired comedy direction and ability to wring laughs from authentic characters. They single out the sweet message about youthful connections for praise. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2026/05/22/finding-emily-review/) ## Radio Times — James Mottram Rating 4/5. The review calls the Manchester-set story a sweet, spirited romcom with verve and intelligence about the madness of love. It singles out the director’s lively handling, the smart script, the city locations and the lead actor’s charisma. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-l7rxhh/finding-emily/) ## The Observer — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 2026. The critic praises the film for making a well-worn romcom genre feel fresh and vital through its sharply written characters and a standout unselfconscious performance. They highlight the peppy direction that embraces social media and memes. [Read the review](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/wendy-ides-pick-of-other-films-finding-emily-star-wars-the-mandalorian-and-grogu-hen-and-more) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 May 2026. The critic hails the return of the British rom-com, noting it commits to genre traditions without being derivative and features an endearing hopeless romantic hero. They praise the reworking of classic romcom elements with aplomb. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/finding-emily-review-british-rom-com-b0hrxnkc6) ## Time Out — India Lawrence Rating 4/5. 19 May 2026. The critic finds Alicia MacDonald’s film a charming and heartfelt Gen Z romcom that explores the ‘what if?’ of romance going too far. It is praised for its leads’ chemistry, grand gestures, one-liners, soundtrack and authentic capture of young people. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/finding-emily-review-2026) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 2 June 2026. The critic finds it a warm, mostly funny British romcom that celebrates and tweaks the old template with winsome turns from the leads. They single out the direction's vibrant, music-filled Mancunian take on Rye Lane and the chemistry between Rice and Fearn for praise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/finding-emily/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 May 2026. The critic finds the gen Z campus romcom warm-hearted and impossible to hate despite some cheesiness and uneven performances. They single out the gentle send-up of campus culture wars and social media pile-ons for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/21/finding-emily-review-gen-z-campus-romcom-is-impossible-to-hate) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 August 2026. Director Alicia MacDonald’s film is both smarter and sweeter than expected, identifying Gen Z sexual politics while knowing when grand romantic gestures still work, delivering a fresh, funny British charmer anchored by delightful lead performances. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/finding-emily-review-1236842405/) ## The AV Club — Natalia Keogan Rating C. 27 August 2026. The film struggles with identity as a rom-com, featuring regressive elements that mock feminist reactions while not developing characters or chemistry enough to root for the leads. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/finding-emily-review) ## The New York Times — Beandrea July Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 27 August 2026. This Gen Z rom-com shows flashes of wit and invention but ultimately leans too heavily on the traditional formula it seems poised to subvert, fumbling toward an inevitable conclusion. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/movies/finding-emily-review.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Gary Goldstein Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 28 August 2026. Elevated by charming performances and Working Title pedigree, the film has a wonky charisma but feels insufficiently peppy and propulsive, making for a diverting but not fully sweeping British rom-com. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-08-28/finding-emily-review-spike-fearn-angourie-rice-alicia-macdonald-rom-com) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Angie Han Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 27 August 2026. The critic finds the rom-com unconvincing due to its handling of toxic behavior and lack of charm or chemistry between leads, despite some sweet moments. It criticizes the film's defensive stance on rom-com tropes as cynical. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/finding-emily-review-angourie-rice-1236681744/) ## Film Stories — Simon Brew Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2026. The critic praises the film's charming, anti-cynical take on the rom-com genre with likable leads and a strong Manchester setting. The final act feels formulaic and contrived. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/finding-emily-review-hang-on-theyre-making-romcoms-for-cinemas-again/) ## HeyUGuys — Linda Marric Rating 4/5. 18 May 2026. The critic finds it a charming, sincere modern rom-com with great chemistry between leads and a warm, nostalgic feel. It highlights the soundtrack and sincerity over cynicism. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/finding-emily-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/finding-emily.md