An Unhinged Molly Gordon and a Restrained Logan Lerman
At one point in Oh, Hi!, a character explains the concept of a “soft boy”—a person (in this case, a man) who wants all the joys of a relationship—affection, care, companionship—but shirks the responsibilities that come with it. Sounds easy, right? In a world increasingly dominated by self-centered individuals with a “Luigi mentality,” society’s downfall might not come from viruses or alien invasions, but from people retreating into their own little worlds, losing sight of what genuine connection feels like—the highs and lows that make relationships truly meaningful.
In Oh, Hi!, Iris (Molly Gordon) learns the hard way during her first weekend getaway with Isaac (Logan Lerman) that he’s a textbook soft boy. The problem? She’s genuinely enjoying their time together and felt tricked into believing that he’s looking for something deeper, too. I won’t spoil exactly how things unravel (though I’m sure the trailer will), but let’s just say the characters are forced to confront their differences head-on, with a touch of Stephen King’s Misery thrown into the mix.
A lot of the film rests on the performances, and fortunately, both Gordon and Lerman are up for the challenge. For Gordon, this feels like the ultimate showcase of her talents, combining the sweetness and charm she displayed in The Bear and Theater Camp with a sharper edge, pushing her intensity—and a touch of craziness—to new heights. Some of Iris’s later actions may seem extreme, but Gordon’s performance sells them completely. You not only believe her character would take those steps but almost feel like Gordon herself might, too. That ability to balance her character’s chaos with vulnerability, making us feel for her even when she crosses lines, is genuinely commendable. Lerman, on the other hand, delivers a more restrained performance (literally).
The supporting cast, including Geraldine Viswanathan and John Reynolds, is an absolute delight, injecting plenty of laughs to keep the energy high. Director Sophie Brooks sets the comedic tone early with a hilarious scene at a strawberry stand and skillfully balances the humor with just the right amount of tension, creating moments that are as amusing as they are nerve-wracking. The screenplay keeps the story moving and escalating effectively—at least until the third act, where a few moments stretch logic. By that point, though, the film has built enough goodwill that you’ll likely go along with it.
While it never quite reaches the level of outrageousness that could make it truly memorable, Oh, Hi! still delivers a fun, captivating experience. It’s a solid vehicle for Gordon, whose performance is both laugh-out-loud funny and subtly unsettling. Let’s just say if I saw her sitting next to me, I’d be a little scared.