Just for Show

A viral tweet thrusts an aspiring photographer into a fake relationship with a minor celebrity in Hamilton’s uninspiring debut. When Luke Murphy, star of the reality TV show Retro Renovations, tweets about his missed connection with a woman he sat next to on a plane who ran away just as he was trying to ask her out, he only hopes to reconnect and see if their flirtation could become something more, not set off a social media storm. His publicist sees the frenzy as an opportunity to gain viewers for the show and convinces him to continue posting until he finds the woman. When Audrey Whitaker learns of her newfound internet fame, she’s shocked; but, desperate to launch her photography business, she sees the advantages of viral stardom. She and Luke reconnect and agree to fake a relationship for social media. In order to pull this off, they have to spend time together, post photos, and meet each other’s friends and families. Convincing others that the relationship is real proves easier than remembering it’s fake, though Hamilton phones in the emotional connection and foregrounds sexual chemistry. This weak take on a familiar trope disappoints. (Jan.)