In one sentence: After losing a digit from a girl’s phone number, a young man turns a brief connection into an increasingly complicated romantic quest.

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Romcoms rarely seem to have the lasting cultural impact of films like Bridget Jones’s Diary or Love Actually. Many arrive with charm and disappear just as quickly. With the producers of both films involved, Finding Emily feels like an attempt to recapture some of that magic while updating the genre for a much more online and cynical age.

The film follows Owen (Spike Fearn), a young sound engineer working at the Manchester City University Student Union, who forms an instant connection with a student called Emily during an event. After asking for her number, he realises the following morning that it is missing a digit, leaving him unable to contact her. Determined to find her again, Owen begins searching around the university and is directed towards another student, Emily Raine (Angourie Rice). Although she is not the Emily he is looking for, she becomes intrigued by his situation as part of her research into romantic love and self sabotage. She offers to help him track down the mystery girl, sending the pair on a journey that becomes about more than simply finding Emily.

The lead performances are charming and grounded in a way that suits the genre well. Spike Fearn brings an awkward sincerity to Owen that makes his increasingly grand romantic quest feel believable rather than irritating. There is something slightly Gallagheresque about him in both look and delivery, which gives his character a distinctly Mancunian identity. Angourie Rice also works well as Emily Raine, bringing warmth and intelligence to a role that could easily have become overly cynical. Their chemistry feels natural and, while the ending follows the familiar fate driven structure of many rom coms, the film understands that the real appeal lies in the journey rather than the destination.

The supporting cast adds humour and energy with Minnie Driver making a brief but entertaining appearance as the Dean. However, the film perhaps stretches itself slightly too thin with the number of smaller supporting characters. Some roles feel underdeveloped and could have been combined or trimmed back to allow the core relationships more room to breathe.

Set against the backdrop of university life, the film fully embraces modern dating culture and social media. Viral moments, online judgement and public perception all play an important role in shaping the story, reflecting how quickly private romantic gestures can become public spectacle. This feeds into one of the film’s more interesting ideas about the line between romance and delusion in contemporary dating culture. Owen’s search for Emily deliberately plays with the classic romcom grand gesture, but the film questions whether such gestures still feel romantic in a world shaped by online scrutiny and changing social expectations. What might once have been viewed as sincere is now seen by some characters as obsessive or strange. The film does a good job of exploring this tension without becoming overly cynical about romance itself.

Manchester also becomes an important part of the film’s identity. The city’s streets, nightlife and student culture give the film personality and help distinguish it from the many British romcoms set in London. There is an authenticity to the setting that makes the world feel lived in and contemporary.

While Finding Emily does not necessarily reinvent the romcom genre, it remains a very watchable and entertaining British film that understands both the appeal and the limitations of modern romance. In a time where television adaptations have increasingly become the home of more traditional romantic storytelling, the story perhaps feels like a concept that may have found an even larger audience in this format. However, there is enough charm, humour and sincerity to make it an enjoyable cinema experience.

★★★½ (3.5/5)