Some of the stories are more involving and complete than others. One of the best centers on Joshua (Dev Patel) as a creator of a dating app, who is giving an interview to a journalist (Catherine Keener) about his successful business. After the interview, they begin an off-the-record discussion of Joshua’s romantic life. It’s strange he would open up to a journalist about his personal life in a business profile, but Modern Love is about finding a connection in places you least expect.
Modern Love boasts a wonderful cast but the series ebb and flows in terms of the strength of each story. One part, featuring Olivia Cooke as a pregnant drifter living with a gay couple (played by Andrew Scott and Brandon Kyle Goodman), who are looking to adopt her baby, feels like a fully realized story compacted in 30 minutes. Recent Emmy winner Julia Garner (Ozark) has the weakest story, which feels like a surface-level exploration of its central themes. Also appearing throughout is John Slattery, Tina Fey, Jane Alexander, Anne Hathaway, Sofia Boutella and John Gallagher Jr.
Carney directed four of the episodes, and Modern Love moves with ease and has a calming presence, even when some of the stories are delving into serious topics. As a series, Modern Love feels a bit too unsubstantial to make a lasting impact and would have benefited as an extended short with strong connective tissue.
"…a wonderful cast but the series ebb and flows in terms of the strength of each story."
