THE ONE I LOVE
A strange marriage retreat that probes fidelity, identity, and repair.
Should You Watch It?
If you enjoy films that make you think while giving you some solid laughs, The One I Love has real appeal. Its small cast, limited settings, and restrained effects support an unpredictable blend of romantic comedy, mystery, and science fiction.
The film also takes marriage seriously enough to show a troubled couple striving to save their relationship and remain faithful to each other. But its romantic worldview, mature themes, strong language, marijuana use, and unresolved ending make this an adults-only choice.
So, adults who can engage those concerns thoughtfully may find the retreat worthwhile. Do not choose it for children or young teens.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESEthan and Sophie are a troubled married couple trying to repair their relationship after Ethan’s adultery. Their counselor sends them to spend a weekend at a secluded retreat house he runs.
At first, the lovely property seems deserted. Alone together, Ethan and Sophie are forced to face their marriage, their disappointments, and the possibility that something very strange is happening around them.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is a good, inventive film with meaningful limitations. Its unpredictable mystery and science-fiction elements engage the mind, while its romantic-comedy touches provide solid laughs.
The movie makes effective use of two actors in double roles, along with a minimum of settings and effects. It also provokes debate about marriage and relationships. Still, the ending is somewhat unresolved, which may frustrate some viewers.
The Worldview
The film presents a strongly Romantic view of love and relationships, treating emotional and romantic fulfillment as central to the couple’s struggle. That outlook is redeemed somewhat by the depiction of Ethan and Sophie striving to save their marriage and remain faithful to each other.
The film also presents marriage counseling as unreliable: the counselor who appears kind and caring is ultimately duplicitous. The couple’s troubled relationship, Ethan’s adultery, and their desire to fix what has been damaged give the story moral weight, even as its Romantic framework falls short of a biblical understanding of marriage.
Scripture honors marriage as a covenant to be treated with seriousness: “Let marriage be held in honor among all” (Hebrews 13:4).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong Romantic worldview, redeemed slightly by depiction of a troubled married couple striving to save their marriage and be faithful to each other, but their marriage counselor is revealed to be duplicitous; five “f” words; no violence; implied fornication/intercourse and discussion in therapy session about husband’s past incident of infidelity; no nudity; no alcohol use; no tobacco smoking but marijuana use in one scene and a reference to past Ecstasy use; and, deception and married couple has a troubled relationship they’re trying to fix.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Ethan and Sophie are trying to repair a marriage damaged by adultery. What does genuine faithfulness require after trust has been broken?
Matthew 19:6 · Ephesians 4:25The couple’s retreat forces them to face difficult truths about themselves. Why is honest confession necessary for healing?
Proverbs 28:13 · James 5:16The counselor appears caring but is ultimately duplicitous. How can wisdom and discernment protect us from placing trust in the wrong person?
Proverbs 14:15 · 1 John 4:1The film asks whether a more attractive or playful version of yourself would make a better spouse. What does Scripture say is more important than outward appeal?
1 Samuel 16:7 · 1 Peter 3:3–4The Final Word
The One I Love is a clever, strange relationship film with worthwhile questions about marriage and faithfulness. Its strong language, marijuana use, mature themes, and unresolved ending make it a film for discerning adults, not young viewers. WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.
