“Love Etc.” is an endearing and engaging real-life alternative to Garry Marshall's star-studded, ensemble romantic comedy “Valentine's Day.”
Granted, you will not see Ashton Kutcher or Jennifer Garner in the new documentary, which airs twice this month on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, but filmmaker Jill Andresevic's project symbolizes its subject in a way that fictional films can only feign. In other words, “Love Etc.” is not only sweet but it is also authentic.
“Love Etc.” is an exploration about the universal stages of love, documented through five real stories over the course of one year in New York City. From teen romance to a decades-long marriage; newlyweds to a recent divorcee and even a bachelor so frustrated in his search that he chooses to have children without a partner, the documentary takes a look at life's most challenging pursuit.
Needless to say, viewers are likely to look at “Love Etc.” differently depending on where they happen to be in their own quest for companionship. After all, like attracts like. Therefore, it is not only possible but actually probable that any given viewer will find one of the five stories to be more captivating than the rest if only because they can best identify with it.
However, that does not stop said viewer from acknowledging the insight in the intimacy of the remaining four stories. Each of the individuals that Andresevic profiles in “Love Etc.” wears their heart on their sleeve for the camera, giving us a glimpse into what is ordinarily an extremely personal experience.
And that is good news for the viewer because Andresevic somehow manages to capture a couple of moments at which time her subjects are particularly vulnerable. The emotion is raw and therefore real. Moreover, it says something significant about the human experience, especially as it pertains to our universal longing for connection and affection.
On the other hand, none of “Love Etc.'s” stories mature in a way that causes the viewer any form of enlightenment. This is, of course, not Andresevic's fault but it does make the movie, which already features a somewhat simple synopsis, less memorable. However, even everyday expressions of love are worth a watch when they are exhibited with such sincerity.
“Love Etc.” (NR – 94 minutes) airs 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 and 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 during “Super Soul Sunday” on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.
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