No-one ever sets out to make a bad film. In a world peppered with pessimism, there’s a hope that whenever there is new cinematic project , there is good intention at its heart. Yet, as we clearly know, the world of film is not populated with perfection, and good intention does not equal good cinema. Kids in Love may have wanted to create a coming of age tale in modern London, but, instead, they have created one of the most startlingly shallow films in recent times.

Will Poulter – who is a good actor, albeit not evident here – plays Jack, a moody teenager who is facing gap year angst. Somehow tripping into a group of bohemian, upper class individuals, he drifts deeper into their world of privilege. Moving past the common courtesy of attempting to unearth a plot, this film is gallingly thin. The leading issue is that a coming-of-age story should involve character development, and Kids in Love features none of this. None of the six vacuous leads endure any great change or land any emotional connection. There’s little to differentiate one from the other, and six upper-class white rich kids ‘struggling’ through ‘life’ is a difficult story to embrace.

Stand By Me – 30 years old this month – is an emotional tale of growth, humour and youth. A timeless classic. Kids in Love is the complete opposite – settling for the lowest level of achievement. No character development, awful direction and no attempt to reach outside an audience of themselves.

It’s a shame to see such talent wasted at every turn. Poulter, Delevingne and Jodorowsky are talented actors, but they have nothing to work with here. Featuring one of the most tone-deaf scripts of recent times, Kids in Love is a perfect case study in shallow, cold and empty filmmaking.

RATING: 1/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Will Poulter, Alma Jodorowsky, Sebastian De Souza, Preston Thompson, Cara Delevingne

DIRECTOR: Chris Foggin

WRITERS: Sebastian De Souza, Preston Thompson

SYNOPSIS: A group of friends live their lives in London, imitating art and enjoying a fast-paced lifestyle.