Stay the Night: A Witty and Charming Rom-Com that Wears Toronto-Love on its Sleeve
By Thom Ernst
Rating: A-minus
Cynics have a challenge ahead of them. It's not easy to dismiss the charms of Stay the Night, a romantic comedy from first-time feature film director Renuka Jeyapalan.
Jeyapalan is new to the big screen scene, but not to the small. She directed the lion's share of episodes of Kim's Convenience—a show that should well have followed the trajectory of a Schitt's Creek, but was strangely and unceremoniously cut short.
But if the unexpected truncation of Kim's Convenience allowed Jeyapalan to make Stay the Night, then we can claim that something good came out of a television executive's poor decision.
Joe Scarpellino and Andrea Bang get to know each other amid the big city lights
Stay the Night is a romantic comedy not afraid to be Canadian. It's not even afraid to be Torontonian. Stay the Night arguably stays the romantic course with a twist—perhaps intentionally, perhaps not—on the Ethan Hawke/Julie Delpy wander-and-chat premise of Before Sunrise (1989) and Before Sunset (2004), set in Vienna and Paris, respectively.
Toronto is not Vienna or Paris, but a world-class city, nonetheless. And Jeyapalan captures the Toronto at night backdrop with a keen sense of pride and affection. It's the same pride and love she gives her characters.
Every beautiful person in Toronto (excluding you and me) is in the film. Not the least are the leads, Andrea Bang (Kim's Convenience) and Joe Scarpellino—they're the couple you gladly tag along with as the third wheel. And so, we follow them through Toronto at night, stopping for drinks at a late-night bar, dropping in on the occasional hot spot, and visiting the luxury suite of a pro athlete's hotel room.
Generally, romantic comedies have a limited narrative scope, with a premise that works around a will-they or will-they-not live happily ever after. Jeyapalan doesn't mess with the formula, but isn't averse to adding a slight twist here and there.
In Jeyapalan's story (she is also the film's screenwriter), Grace (Bang) is a single woman with a chronic disorder to play safe. Grace dislikes using apps and going to bars to meet people—specifically men. It's created a lonely existence for Grace that she hopes to break free from.
Then there is Carter Stone (Scarpellino), a hockey star who is like a walking dating app. Stone (Is there any better name for a romantic hero than Carter Stone?) can hook up with a wry smile and a friendly hello. But tonight, Stone is not in a hook-up mood. His exalted position in hockey is in serious jeopardy, and he won't know just how serious until daylight.
The two meet and, each with their own agenda, decide to do what they can to alter their fortunes. Or at least wait it out until fortune decides for them.
After an initial bit of awkward flirtation, Grace and Carter set off to consummate their brief, fleeting friendship. But intent can be a bit of a red herring in romantic comedies, as it proves to be with Grace and Carter.
Jeyapalan's script is witty, charming, and filled with affection. An unforgettable debut in a simple but pleasing comedy. And it's worth noting that a scene involving hamburgers is bound to challenge the iconic "I'll have what she's having" Meg Ryan moment in When Harry Met Sally.
CLICK HERE to watch Bonnie Laufer’s interview with Stay the Night star Andrea Bang.
Stay the Night is directed by Renuka Jeyapalan and stars Andrea Bang and Joe Scarpellino. Stay the Night opens in selected theatres, Friday November 18, 2022.