Spoiler alert: Colin Firth appears in a “spicy” role in the film “Rye Lane”.
Raine Allen-Miller’s charming romantic comedy “Rye Lane” offers plenty of delightful surprises, including an unexpected cameo from an actor who has become a staple in the romantic comedy genre. The announcement of a surprise cameo by Colin Firth has generated buzz everywhere.
The film blends elements from classic rom-coms like “Before Sunrise” and “Notting Hill” to tell the story of Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah) as they stroll through South London and gradually fall in love. It unveils their burgeoning romance through lively conversations and leisurely walks.
At one point in the film, the couple stops at a food stand to buy some spicy pork burritos, and the stand itself is a nod to the romantic comedy genre. Appropriately called “Love Guac’tually,” the stand is manned by none other than Colin Firth, the star of the beloved romantic comedy “Love, Actually.”
When Raine Allen-Miller began envisioning her debut feature film, she had two non-negotiable demands: it had to be set in South London, where she grew up, and it had to be funny. She wanted to create a film that celebrated Black love and showcased the diversity of South London. She explained that the film was a personal project, as it was based on her experiences growing up in the area.
However, she never expected her first film to be a rom-com, as she had never considered herself a director of that genre. She recently admitted saying, “I can tell you that it wouldn’t have been a rom-com. I never really thought I would direct a rom-com.”
She revealed how the idea for the story came about. She explained that, “I can’t remember why I wanted it or how it happened, but I remember just saying to my partner, I was like, ‘Oh, I want to do this thing where we have a store called like, About a Burrito, which jokes about other rom-coms. And my boyfriend was like, ‘What about Love Guac’tually?’”
The director thought it was so good that she joked it was the reason they were now engaged. She shared that, “I thought About a Burrito was really good, but when he said Love Guac’tually, I was like…well, now we’re engaged. That says a lot, right? But I was so impressed.”
To further add, Allen-Miller found it surprisingly easy to get Colin Firth on board for the cameo in her film. When she took the idea to her producers of BBC Film, the British Film Institute, and Searchlight Pictures, they encouraged her to reach out to Firth directly. She wrote him a letter and, much to her surprise, he agreed to do it.
She shared that, “Somebody had obviously worked with him before [and had his contact information], and so I wrote him a letter. And we thought, ‘Oh, he is not going to do it,’ but he did it, and it was great.”
During filming, Firth was enthusiastic about the role and even requested a burrito for himself. Allen-Miller was thrilled to work with him and praised him for being a genuinely nice person, which she says is evident in his on-screen performances. “He’s so nice!” Allen-Miller stated. “He’s a really nice person. And it’s weird as well, isn’t it? You can tell in the stuff he’s in that he’s a really nice guy. He’s lovely. It was great!”
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The experience was a fun one for the first-time feature filmmaker, who expressed her gratitude to Firth and her team for helping her bring her vision to life.
Working alongside screenwriters Nathan Byron and Tom Melia for two years, Allen-Miller helped to shape the film to her liking. She even made changes to the original script, such as shifting the location from Camden to Brixton and Peckham. The result is a collaborative effort that is as endearing as it is hilarious.
In addition, Allen-Miller aimed to highlight the film’s “more surreal moments,” such as the scene where Dom and Yas bring each other into their key memories. It includes a movie theatre sequence that reveals the end of Dom’s previous relationship. She did this to maintain a slightly elevated tone for the story. She made sure that the character of Dom didn’t hog all the best jokes.
She creatively twisted typical rom-com tropes to ensure both of her lead stars had equal comedic opportunities. While talking about their characters, she revealed that, “Naturally, I really wanted to make sure that it wasn’t a story where it was a guy bumbling and being funny and a woman just absorbing the jokes along with the audience,” she said. “It was really important note for me to make sure that Yas was almost funnier than Dom, but that also came through in the casting.”
The news of Firth’s cameo has generated buzz on social media, with many expressing excitement and surprise at the announcement. One of the tweets shared the perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of the film ‘Rye Lane’.
Raine Allen-Miller’s acclaimed rom-com ‘RYE LANE’ starring David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah currently holds a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The film is now streaming on Hulu. pic.twitter.com/d8rvsNS1lw
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) April 2, 2023
Meanwhile, another tweeted, praising the authenticity and quality of the rom-com movie.
RYE LANE packs more authenticity & genuine emotion into its incredibly engaging, witty, entertaining 82 minutes than many rom-coms with twice the runtime. A perfect example of how a story should take as long as it needs to & nothing more. Vivian Oparah & David Jonsson are 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YXCZtTknUP
— Manuel São Bento (@msbreviews) March 31, 2023
Despite not considering herself an expert in the genre, Allen-Miller surprised herself by crafting a fantastic romantic comedy that premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance earlier this year.
Following its successful premiere, “Rye Lane” will be released on Disney Plus in the U.K. on May 3, 2023. Meanwhile, the film is presently available to stream on Hulu. Here’s how you could watch the film on Hulu in the UK.
Allen-Miller has yet to watch the film from the perspective of her American audience, but she remains optimistic about how people will perceive it and what they will gain from the experience. With a cast that includes Firth, it’s sure to be a must-watch for fans of romantic comedies.
