All of You (2025) Review!!

Synopsis – A stirring near-futuristic romance of two best friends who harbor an unspoken love for one another even after a test matches one of them up with their supposed soulmate.

My Take – Is it just me, or aren’t we getting a lot of Black Mirror-adjacent dystopia drama nowadays? Particularly those centered on how the digital wave has or will change personal relationships. And considering the subpar quality of most of them and the radical ideas they represent, it was inevitable that similar sounding ideas would begin to arise in different forms.

Such is the case of this latest Apple TV+ release, whose general plot of finding true love through scientific tests sounds eerily similar to the steamer’s own 2023 release ‘Fingernails‘, but without having their fingernails pulled off. Instead, it introduces a method called Soul Connex where you take the test and get matched with your true soulmate. Or so you think as both films make a point.

Directed by William Bridges (whose credits include popular Black Mirror episodes) and co-written by ‘Ted Lasso‘ breakout Brett Goldstein, the film acts as a continuation of a concept that they first explored in ‘Soulmates‘, an AMC anthology series that got canceled after one season.

And though the simple setup might come off as a rather conventional relationship drama, the very British romantic drama surprisingly ends up stirring feelings you may have long buried inside, all while asking questions about destiny, regret and happily-ever-after love.

Yes, it definitely has echoes of When Harry Met Sally (1989) and the soapy nature might only work for some, but the screenplay doesn’t exactly cave to the clichés of the typical romantic flicks and walks carefully into this age-old premise, sweetly and with more honesty than typical Hollywood fare. Add to that extremely watchable leads in the form of Goldstein and Imogen Poots, we are left with an experience that is both messy and romantic as well deeply sad and deeply soulful.

The story follows Laura (Imogen Poots) and Simon (Brett Goldstein), two longtime college friends whose deep-seated complicity and intimacy are the anchors of their lives. These are the kind of friends who give each other shit, complain about being grown-ups, and affectionately greet each other with profanities. So strong is their connection, in fact, that it feels quite confusing why these two funny, hot, single people, who clearly enjoy each other’s company, wouldn’t immediately get together.

However, their comfortable friendship is put to the test when a technological breakthrough allows people to take a test to find their ideal partner. And while a skeptical Simon refuses to take it, believing in a more organic connection, a more hopeful Laura submits to the test, begins a relationship, gets hitched and has a daughter with her designated soulmate, Lukas (Steven Cree).

But while Simon too begins a relationship with Laura’s friend Andrea (Zawe Ashton), the connection between the two friends only deepens over time, and following a tragedy, evolves into an affair that challenges their own beliefs and the lives they’ve built.

Though the narrative structure jumps forward in time, skipping years and crucial life moments isn’t always effective, it conveys the passage of time organically through clever dialogue and subtle visual changes. Most importantly, director Bridges lets the scenes to breathe in silence and allows the actors to sneak meaningful glances at each other.

Sure, it becomes difficult to follow and empathize with characters who blatantly lie to and cheat on those they supposedly love, especially when the film seems afraid to judge their actions. But we root for this star-crossed couple even though the ache they will leave behind is palpable. Especially for Simon who is and has been hopelessly in love with Laura, but Laura keeps holding up the reason that the soulmate test works and is determined to stay with her designated partners, who is supposedly perfect.

Unfortunately, the cyclical nature of their affair also makes the second half of the story, especially the third act, redundant and repetitive. The structure boils down to this: moments of hidden love between Simon and Laura, an inevitable argument about predictable topics, the protagonists deal with the consequences, they pull apart, and then they return to the same starting point. This repetition reinforces the idea that the original story perhaps didn’t have enough substance for a longer adaptation.

Surprisingly, the sci-fi gimmick is well-used, in both smart and sparing ways. The initial burst of Soul Connex commercials across London in the opening scenes feel eerily of-the-moment, given the influx of ads for both AI and Ozempic that we’re now flooded with, and while it does lead to some briefly knotty dinner party debate, it’s mostly just a heightened replacement for something many of us already know, a reason not to be with someone.

Nevertheless, the chemistry between Imogen Poots and Brett Goldstein is palpable and absolutely makes the film work. It’s through their dynamic that the film explores its best answer to the initial question. Goldstein is slightly less gruff here and proves he can be a leading man. The actor offers an incredibly contained performance that, when it reaches its emotional peaks, is breathtaking, proving himself to be a dramatic actor of great caliber.

Poots is a revelation as always. Girlish one moment, anguished the next, she delivers a remarkable and complex interpretation. In smaller supporting roles, Zawe Ashton & Steven Cree add credibility to the narrative. In a cameo appearance, Jenna Coleman leaves a mark. On the whole, ‘All of You‘ is a small but sharp high-concept romance that delivers a decent bittersweet story about friendship, sex and love.