‘Across the River’: Missed Connections on the Thames

Confusion about real connections elicits more yawns than smiles.

An awkward start: Ryan (Keir Charles) and Emma (Elizabeth Healey), in “Across the River.” GJW+

NR | 1h 15m | Comedy, Drama, Romance | 2018

Recent romantic comedies often fall back on shock tactics, such as gratuitous sexual content and coarse language that are inserted more for distraction than storytelling. The genre frequently feels more reliant on gimmicks than genuine charm.