Can You Keep A Secret? is a 2019 independent movie directed by Elise Duran and a screenplay by Peter Hutchings. Can You Keep A Secret? is a new age rom-com based on a novel by Sophia Kinsella. The film explores how people hide their true selves to become more appealing to the other person.
The movie tells us that communicating and acknowledging our vulnerabilities brings us closer, and how does one do that? Champagne! In an inebriated state, the female lead in the film, Emma (played by Alexandra Daddario), reveals her secrets to a stranger. The stranger finds these revealing attractive, so he carries on without leaving. Emma tells him about her workplace affairs, including her recent one where she’s secretly dating her company’s founder.
Most of the characters are in their late 20s or early 30s, and there are many sexual jokes and situations with a lot of cussing going on, along with a diverse supporting cast. The movie is 1hr 35min long, making it a short and crisp watch.
What Do The Critics Say?
Can You Keep A Secret? The film falls short from the perspective of unique storytelling and the lacklustre expected from a rom-com getting a negative response from most critics. Tries very hard but unfortunately fails.
With an IMDb rating of 5.3, it has been best described as “dull” and “cringe” at certain places. Rotten Tomatoes has called the film ‘Flat’, giving it a 22% rating. The box office earning of the movie is also low because of the limited screens that it had released on, most of which had been in the US.
Should You Skip It Or Stream It
The whole cast tries to put up a compelling performance, and it is Daddario. She is believable as the vibrant and bubbly yet awkward Emma, who has a tough time buying into the fact that a handsome man like James could take any interest in her. Also, the co-producer of the movie stands out the most.
The movie gets right in its effortless representation of the very ethnically and sexually diverse cast without forcing it in the scripts.
You don’t even think about this diversity, not because it’s gets shadowed but because of its subtle representation as usual. And why not? After all, the makers intended the main takeaway to be that: One should be comfortable in their skin.
Can You Keep A Secret provides funny and cringe-worthy moments but fails to add any nuance to the story? Even with its messaging solid, it would be forgotten in the massive sea of Hollywood rom-com. In our opinion, SKIP IT. It’s okay if you don’t get to know about this ‘secret’.
Cast
Can You Keep A Secret cast Alexandra Daddario and Tyler Hoechlin in the lead Other noteworthy cast members include Laverne Cox, David Ebert, Robert King, Kimiko Glenn and Kate Easton.
Where To Watch It?
“Can You Keep A Secret?” has been available on Netflix since the 13th of September 2019. Other than this, the movie can also be streamed on Amazon Prime Video, Apple iTunes, Google Play TV, YouTube, VUDU and DIRECTV.
