A Love Like This
April 6th, 2026
MOVIE: A LOVE LIKE THIS
STARRING: EMMANEUELLE CHRIQUI, HAYES MACARTHUR
DIRECTED BY: JOHN ASHER
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 88 MINUTES
Week after week, audiences search for films tailored to specific demographics, yet what’s most often offered are big IP franchises, animated features, or horror. While those categories dominate for a reason, it also means that straightforward adult dramas- especially those centered on relationships- are increasingly rare. A Love Like This is what I’d call “a movie for adults.” It tells the story of two people on a romantic getaway, enjoying each other’s company while navigating the complications beneath the surface. The film is at once erotic and emotional, funny and tender, reminding viewers that some kinds of love are far easier than others.
The story follows Paul (Hayes MacArthur) and Leah (Emmanuelle Chriqui), former high school sweethearts who reunite for a romantic escape at a beautiful Malibu beach house. Paul arrives first, leaving Leah a message about a supposed flat tire that will delay him. In reality, he’s already there, cake in hand, eager to surprise her. The central complication: both are married to other people. Their reunion is part of an ongoing affair, one they sustain under the guise of work trips, carving out moments to indulge in their connection.
Written by Jeffrey Ruggles and directed by John Asher, the film’s intrigue lies not just in the premise of an affair, but in its depiction of a deeply physical and emotionally charged relationship. Asher leans into the sensuality, crafting intimate, steamy moments that highlight the undeniable chemistry between Chriqui and MacArthur. Notably, the film avoids overt judgment; while it doesn’t condone their actions, it presents them as flawed individuals navigating complicated emotional terrain.
Where the film falters is in its dramatic weight. The narrative moves from a romantic dinner to a hot tub encounter, then into a night of drinks and dancing, culminating in a brief moment of jealousy that leads Leah to leave for a hotel. However, these developments lack the intensity needed to fully land. Despite Chriqui’s magnetic presence and the characters’ inherent likability, the script doesn’t dig deep enough. For a story built on infidelity, one might expect sharper conflict- something closer to the heightened drama of a Real Housewives-style confrontation- but that tension never fully materializes.
Still, Asher’s direction succeeds in creating an intimate atmosphere where two adults grapple with very adult problems: balancing family responsibilities, satisfying personal desires, and confronting the reality of their choices. These are not perfect people, nor are they villains. They are simply human, navigating the messy, often contradictory nature of love. In that sense, A Love Like This stands as a bold modern romance.
3 STARS
A LOVE LIKE THIS IS CURRENTLY PLAYING IN SELECT THEATERS AND AVAILABLE ON DEMAND.
Written by: Leo Brady
