With Love Movie Review: A Feel-Good Romcom with Heart and Charm
Debutant director Madhan's With Love has arrived as the latest addition to the wave of feel-good films currently sweeping through Tamil cinema. Released on February 6, 2026, this romantic comedy runs for 2 hours and 2 minutes and has garnered a 3.0 rating from both critics and audiences. While the premise may not break new ground, the film finds its freshness through engaging characters and their heartfelt interactions.
A Matchmaking Story with a Twist
The film follows Sathya (Abishan Jeevinth), whose persistent sister arranges a matchmaking meeting with Monisha (Anaswara Rajan). To their surprise, they discover they were schoolmates, with Monisha being Sathya's junior. The two connect instantly, but Monisha proposes an unconventional idea: before committing to each other, they should attempt to reconnect with and confess their feelings to their long-lost school crushes.
This premise sets the stage for a nostalgic journey back to school days, exploring themes of unresolved emotions and second chances at love.
Finding Its Footing Through Flashbacks
With Love takes some time to establish its rhythm. Initially, viewers might draw comparisons to other recent Tamil romantic comedies, and the early interactions between the lead characters lack a certain natural ease. However, the film truly comes into its own when it delves into the characters' flashbacks. These sequences provide depth and emotional resonance, allowing the narrative to flow more smoothly and confidently.
The film heavily relies on relatability, attempting to craft situations that resonate with the audience. While this approach yields some success, it occasionally falters. For instance, a character's broad statement about inherently knowing another's feelings because "as a woman, she can sense it" feels engineered for effect rather than organic to the story. Such moments lack the contextual depth needed to fully explore the characters' emotions.
Strengths in Specificity and Performance
With Love shines brightest when it focuses on character-specific interactions and witty one-liners rather than resorting to generalized romantic comedy tropes. The film doesn't attempt to reinvent the genre but instead embraces conventional patterns while infusing them with genuine charm.
The lead performances are particularly noteworthy. Abishan Jeevinth, in his debut as a leading man, perfectly embodies the boy-next-door role. His unassuming presence softens Sathya's character, preventing what could have been an off-putting portrayal in less capable hands. Anaswara Rajan delivers a wonderful performance, handling both emotional and serious moments with natural ease and without exaggeration.
Technical and Supporting Elements
The film benefits from Sean Roldan's vibrant musical score, which enhances the overall viewing experience. The supporting cast adds lovely texture to the narrative, contributing to the film's warm atmosphere.
While With Love follows a familiar romantic comedy structure, it succeeds through its:
- Likeable lead performances
- Engaging flashback sequences
- Relatable emotional core
- Charming supporting characters
- Vibrant musical accompaniment
The film represents a solid entry in Tamil cinema's current trend of feel-good entertainment, offering audiences an enjoyable, if familiar, romantic journey with enough heart and humor to make it worth watching.
