When it comes to workplace romance, The Hating Game likely comes to mind.
A classic story about a relationship and office dynamics – it has been a hit with readers everywhere. But does the movie live up to the book’s name?
After Sally Thorne’s book received rave reviews, the intense and spicy film adaptation was released in 2021, five years later. But is the film really worth your time?
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What is The Hating Game About?
At its core, The Hating Game follows Lucy Hutton (Lucy Hale) and Joshua Templeman (Austin Stowell). They are colleagues at a competitive publishing company. As they work together, they bicker and disagree. They often stare aggressively at each other from opposite desks.
Lucy and Joshua both compete for a coveted promotion – and what starts as playful banter in the office turns into a full-blown battle between the two, with each trying to outdo the other at every turn.
Their bitter rivalry is one of the main reasons why readers love the book so much. And the intense dynamic between the pair plays out brilliantly on screen.
Lucy and Joshua are arguably among the best characters to come out of the classic “enemies to lovers” trope – whether you love or hate them.
And the movie does well at mimicking the love-to-hate relationship which so many loved throughout the book.
Actress Lucy Hale, best known for her role as a naive teenager Aria Montgomery in Pretty Little Liars, gives a mature and praiseworthy performance in the role of Lucy Hutton.
Meanwhile, Austin Stowell does amazing in portraying Joshua Templeman, as he seamlessly embodies the character’s traits without making them feel exaggerated.
Joshua starts off as the quintessential office villain – cold, sarcastic, and hard to read – but Stowell does an excellent job of peeling back the layers of his character throughout the story.
With a one hour and forty-two minutes viewing time, the movie sticks pretty close to the plot, with plenty of familiar moments from the book.
There are a few parts that could have been trimmed down to keep things a little tighter, but the great news is that the story still feels true to the original. And those cute scenes from the book? They’re totally intact in the movie. Yaaay!
The Hating Game Review
At the heart of the story are Lucy and Joshua. Despite having the same job, their personalities couldn’t be more different.
Lucy is optimistic and relatable. Meanwhile, the ever-so-serious Josh couldn’t be more opposite. However, once they put aside their rivalry and get together, they just make sense.
They create a dynamic that’s both entertaining and hilarious, and the actors bring these characters to life with undeniable chemistry.
The Hating Game is a romance story that progresses at a good pace, rather than rushing into a whirlwind love story.
The Hating Game Review: Is this Movie Worth Your Time?
The tension between Lucy and Joshua is palpable from the start, and the film takes its time to develop their relationship.
There’s a satisfying slow-burn quality to their dynamic, and the movie does a terrific job of translating the book’s playful pranks between Lucy and Joshua as well as their emotions onto the screen.
While the movie is first and foremost a romance, it doesn’t shy away from topics such as lying and bullying. Both Lucy and Joshua undergo significant personal transformations throughout the story. And that’s something we all love to see.
The Hating Game will have you laughing out loud, while also tugging at your heartstrings during the more heart-wrenching scenes.
With standout performances from Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell, this adaptation is perfect for fans of the book or even if you haven’t read it yet.
If you’re in the mood to laugh-out-loud, immerse yourself in a heartwarming romance, The Hating Game should be your next watch.
You can now watch the movie on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Start your free 30-day trial with Amazon Prime now!