The Hating Game Review
When it comes to workplace romances, The Hating Game likely comes to mind. It’s the story about a relationship and office dynamics. But does the movie live up to the book’s name?
The tense romance film is based on Sally Thorne’s beloved 2016 novel, which has garnered rave reviews in the book community in recent years. The Hating Game stars Lucy Hutton (Lucy Hale) and Joshua Templeman (Austin Stowell) as two colleagues at a competitive publishing company. While working together, they don’t get along.
Lucy and Joshua both compete for a coveted promotion at their publishing house, and things turn pretty nasty between the two, with them both 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.
The fiery duo are arguably among the best characters to come out of the classic “enemies to lovers” trope 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 naive teenager Aria Montgomery in Pretty Little Liars, plays the role of Lucy Hutton well, portraying the character’s stubbornness as well as her gentle side. Meanwhile, Austin Stowell does an amazing job in portraying sweet and competitive Joshua Templeman.
Joshua starts off as the quintessential office villain as he’s 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.
The heart of the story is 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 Joshua couldn’t be more opposite. However together once they put aside their rivalry and get together, they just make sense.
There are so many scenes that are entertaining and hilarious, like the elevator standoff or the paintball date. I love that the movie progresses at a good pace, though it did feel slow at certain times.
The Hating Game doesn’t take its time building the romance, but we all knew that going into it. And the film is pretty much the same. Lucy and Joshua’s relationship is messy and confusing, but it seems realistic. While it is first and foremost a romance, it doesn’t shy away from topics such as toxic workplace culture. The Hating Game will have you laughing out loud while also having heartwarming 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. Whether you’re a fan of the book or just in the mood for a witty romantic comedy, this film is a solid choice. If you’re looking to laugh, feel, and root for these two characters, The Hating Game should be next on your watchlist.