‘Picture This’ Vs ‘Five Blind Dates’: How Different Are They?
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Well, well, well…. After winning over fans with her ‘Bridgerton’ appearance, Simone Ashley is excited about finally doing her dream film, a romantic comedy! She stars in “Picture This”, which is a British rehash of its Australian cousin “Five Blind Dates.” Both are from the creative mind of writer Nathan Ramos-Park, yet they dance to their own cultural beats. Here’s what sets the two movies apart.
Setting the Scene: London vs. Sydney
In “Picture This,” we follow Pia, portrayed by the gorgeous Simone Ashley. Pia is a London-based photographer whose life takes a whimsical turn when a spiritual guru predicts she’ll meet the love of her life within her next five dates. Cue the meddling family and a parade of suitors, including the intriguing Charlie, played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin.
Hop over to Australia, and we meet Lia, brought to life by Shuang Hu in “Five Blind Dates.” Lia’s struggling tea shop and her sister’s impending wedding set the stage for a fortune teller’s prophecy: her soulmate awaits among her next five dates. With family and friends orchestrating setups, Lia embarks on a comedy of errors.
Cultural Flavors and Family Ties
“Picture This” immerses us in British-Indian culture, showcasing vibrant wedding festivities and familial expectations that will resonate with viewers. Pia’s interactions with her strict mom are the funniest, who just wants to see her daughters married and ‘settled’.
Meanwhile, “Five Blind Dates” offers a glimpse into Chinese-Australian life, highlighting themes of filial piety and the balancing act between personal dreams and family duties. Lia’s journey is an exploration of cultural identity and the pursuit of happiness.
Plot differences
In Five Blind Dates, Lia actually goes on dates with five different guys. Meanwhile, Pia in Picture This only meets three, and she’s already exhausted. In both films, the dates fall somewhere between awkward, cringey, and unintentionally hilarious. With a few minor tweaks, the lineup is pretty similar: first, there’s the rich but narcissistic oddball; then the nerdy-cute guy who, unfortunately, has a crush on someone close to Pia; and finally, the hot athletic guy suggested by their sister, who turns out to be charmingly clueless, if not completely brainless.
But you know what’s most similar in both films?
The fact that they both have a crisp under 2 hour runtime, which means there isn’t enough time to establish romantic chemistry with any character, let alone confuse the viewers about who they should choose in the end. The ‘endgame’ is pretty clear quite from the beginning.
And in both films, the lead seems better off just chilling and running her small business with her best-friend.
Final Verdict
While “Picture This” and “Five Blind Dates” share a common narrative thread, they are both predictable romantic comedies that are disappointingly thin on romance. But if you can get on board with that, they are both ‘okay-ish’ movies to watch on the weekend with some friends and buckets of popcorn.
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