Cohabiting Lover
starring: KIRBY ELLWOOD & ALI BADALOV
SYNOPSIS
Runaway bride Corrine and CEO Andre end up sharing the same apartment after a leasing mix up. Then Corrine finds out Andre is her new boss....
REVIEW
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Well the lines are officially blurred now. Because this feels like a great Hollywood romcom. It's big screen material
It has the vert pace but the writing is another level which is all credit to Tiffany Zhao and Kaelyn Armstrong
We haven't had a good forced proximity vertical so I was already looking forward to this one. But the writing here turns some vertical tropes on their head
- they assemble IKEA furniture!!!!
- it tackles being an heiress with no life experience and turns it into something utterly adorable and character-building
- when the bad egg suggests bribery and sleeping with someone, it is called out at totally unprofessional and she is fired
- even the way Andre breaks up with his childhood match Celine Planata is well done
- no slaps, chokes, or abuse. THANK YOU
And the cast so deserve this, they have done their time in vert trenches
Ali Badalov is basically a matinee idol in this as Andre. It's not the showiest role. He is just a really nice guy, and isn't that what we all want? And it is so natural. And he should be on a big screen with women all over the world swooning over him
And Kirby Ellwood is just the best at mixing comedy, being spunky, fiery, and then vulnerable. Again, lots more roles like this, please. She is superb
We have a super backup cast Chelsea Gray as the very awesome and wise BFF, Johnny Keatth as the very disappointing dad, and Tricia Connor Jackson as Andre's pushy mum
There are interesting ideas
- the intergenerational dynamics, a start-up vs an established brand, Andre wanting to be independent, his mum resentful as she had an arranged marriage, so he should as well
- All the talk about books vs podcasts.
And I loved ep 53 when Corrine pitches the beer and perfectly captures the appeal of verticals
"You are looking for anything and everything that will give you the sense of belonging"
It's utterly brilliant and sets the bar so much higher. I cannot watch a cruddy banquet hall saga or toxic abuse after this. There is no excuse for it. They need to end now and exit stage left, pursued by a bear. 🐻
Bravo team Cohabiting Lover
💖 Top swoonworthy moment:
I spent 18 years as a bookseller. Andre gets interested in books because of Corrine, goes to the bookstore, secretly buys her Anna Karenina, reads it and writes out one of the best quote. SWOON.
And you know he will be building her bookcases
🦹🏼♂️ Top villain award:
Corrine’s dad (Johnny Keatth) for disowning his daughter, never believing in her and happily giving her up for those 3 clients. No slaps here thankfully, but actually this total lack of love and care stings just as much
😂 Comedy gold:
Corrine’s valiant attempts at cleaning are adorable and hilarious, the olive oil, the hairdryer dusting (poor dog) and perhaps most terrifyingly the spoon nearly going in the microwave.
Plus lots of great lines, loved “Just because you have a start up doesn't mean you have all the answers” from Andre’s mum
🎺 Unsung hero:
The landlords for mixing up the lease - thanks for creating the meet cute. And the bookstore. More verts should feature bookstores.
✍🏼 DETAILS
Director | Dede Harlan
Writers | Tiffany Zhao and Kaelyn Armstrong
2025
Available on Reelshort, Sereal Plus
