Released on March 6, 2025, Picture This is a British rom-com that tries to put a fresh spin on the classic love story formula. Directed by Prarthana Mohan, the film stars Simone Ashley as Pia, a 29-year-old photographer living in London. Pia gets caught up in her sister’s wedding chaos, and on top of that, her family pushes her to go on five dates to meet her “soulmate,” according to some random spiritual guru.

Simone Ashley does a solid job portraying Pia. She balances being independent with the vulnerability that comes from dealing with family pressure. Her chemistry with Hero Fiennes Tiffin, who plays Charlie, Pia’s ex, gives the movie some emotional depth, especially when they start rekindling their complicated relationship. It’s kind of cute, but also makes you roll your eyes a bit in that classic rom-com way.

The plot is based on the Australian movie Five Blind Dates, but it doesn’t quite live up to its potential. The whole “go on dates to meet your soulmate” idea is fun at first, but things get a little repetitive and predictable as the movie goes on. Some moments are funny and sweet, while others drag on and feel kind of forced. It’s got the classic rom-com vibes, but it doesn’t do much to stand out from all the other movies in this genre.

Visually, the film has a cool backdrop of London, which adds some charm to it. But there are moments when the lighting is way too bright, which messes with the mood. Also, the split-screen technique they use to show different moments feels like it’s trying too hard to be modern and just distracts from the story.

The supporting cast, like Luke Fetherston and Anoushka Chadha, do a decent job of adding to Pia’s world, especially with the themes of friendship and family. But honestly, some of the characters feel like they’re just there to move the plot along and aren’t as well-developed as they could have been.

Overall, Picture This has gotten mixed reviews. Some people like Simone Ashley’s performance, but others think the movie doesn’t really live up to expectations, especially considering its low-budget feel and lack of originality. The movie’s got a 45% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which pretty much says it all—it’s not a total flop, but it’s definitely not a must-see either.

If you’re into rom-coms and just want something light to watch, it could be fun, but don’t expect it to blow you away.

Rating: 2.5/5