My Oxford Year – Film Review

Romantic comedies have long thrived on the fantasy of a sweeping love story that changes the trajectory of its protagonists’ lives. Iain Morris’ My Oxford Year, adapted from Julia Whelan’s novel of the same name, certainly aspires to deliver that sense of transformative romance, all wrapped up in a postcard-perfect depiction of Oxford University. With a screenplay by Allison Burnett and Melissa Osborne, the film leans heavily into the tropes of the genre—an ambitious American outsider, a witty yet complicated British love interest, and a backdrop steeped in tradition. The result is a film that looks polished and occasionally finds moments of warmth, but ultimately lacks the depth and emotional punch needed to stand out.

The film centers on Anna De La Vega (Sofia Carson), an ambitious American student who has worked tirelessly to secure a place at Oxford. Bright, confident, and fiercely independent, Anna arrives in England ready to take on academia while simultaneously managing a promising career path back in the United States. Almost immediately, she collides—both literally and figuratively—with Jamie Davenport (Corey Mylchreest), a charming and sharp-witted local whose playful arrogance masks something deeper.

The setup is familiar, and the screenplay doesn’t attempt to hide its adherence to the rom-com formula. Initial sparks of annoyance give way to flirtation, and flirtation blooms into something much more serious. Around the edges, the film populates its cast with the Davenport family—William (Dougray Scott) and Antonia (Catherine McCormack), who lend gravitas as Jamie’s parents—and quirky Oxford classmates, most notably Charlie Butler (Harry Trevaldwyn), who injects comic relief.

While the premise has the makings of a classic romantic setup, the film often feels like it is checking boxes rather than creating organic emotional beats. Anna’s career ambitions, Jamie’s family burdens, and the cultural clash between America and England all exist, but rarely are they explored with the depth they deserve.

Much of My Oxford Year rests on Sofia Carson’s shoulders, and to her credit, she proves a magnetic presence. Carson has the charisma to carry the film, bringing a lively, determined energy to Anna. She embodies the blend of ambition and vulnerability that defines the character, and her chemistry with Corey Mylchreest is serviceable, if not electric.

Still, Carson’s performance is constrained by the screenplay, which doesn’t give Anna enough interiority beyond her archetypal drive and eventual romantic awakening. Her struggles often feel surface-level, and while Carson tries to inject nuance, the material keeps her in a glossy, idealized frame.

Mylchreest fares somewhat better, bringing charm and a dose of gravitas to Jamie. His performance has a lived-in quality that grounds the film, particularly in later scenes where Jamie’s struggles with his family come to the fore. The supporting cast—Scott and McCormack—add credibility, though their roles are more functional than fleshed-out. Trevaldwyn, meanwhile, gets some of the film’s best comedic moments, though his character too risks feeling like a stock “quirky best friend.”

Director Iain Morris, best known for co-creating The Inbetweeners, takes a surprisingly restrained approach here. Gone are the crass comedic instincts that defined his earlier work; instead, Morris delivers a straightforward romance with polished cinematography and picturesque visuals of Oxford. The film looks beautiful—spires, libraries, and cobblestone streets are captured with postcard perfection—but the aesthetic sheen comes at the cost of emotional grit.

Scenes often unfold predictably, with little tension or unpredictability. The direction rarely digs beneath the glossy exterior to explore the complexities of ambition, sacrifice, or cultural clash. For a story about life-changing decisions, the film feels curiously risk-averse.

To its credit, My Oxford Year is never unpleasant. Its breezy tone makes it easy to watch, and for fans of Sofia Carson or for audiences looking for a comforting, escapist romance, the film delivers on its most basic promises. The humor, while mild, keeps the film from becoming overly self-serious, and its runtime never overstays its welcome.

The film also benefits from its setting: Oxford is not just a backdrop but a character in itself. The centuries-old traditions, academic rituals, and atmospheric locations give the movie a distinct sense of place. Even if the narrative doesn’t fully capitalize on the setting’s dramatic potential, the visual charm is undeniable.

The primary issue with My Oxford Year is its predictability. From the moment Anna and Jamie meet, the trajectory of their relationship is all but inevitable. The screenplay gestures at deeper themes—career vs. love, individual ambition vs. family duty—but resolves them in ways that feel tidy rather than earned.

Moreover, the film never quite decides if it wants to be a frothy rom-com or a heartfelt romantic drama. When it leans toward comedy, the laughs are modest. When it leans toward drama, the emotional stakes feel undercooked. As a result, the movie occupies an in-between space where it is pleasant but rarely moving.

Even the Davenport family dynamics, which could have lent weight to Jamie’s character arc, are sketched too lightly. William and Antonia serve primarily as obstacles and exposition providers rather than fully realized people. This lack of depth weakens the film’s attempt to elevate itself beyond a standard romance.

The film’s origins—adapted from Julia Whelan’s novel, itself adapted from Burnett’s original screenplay—may explain some of its unevenness. The narrative feels torn between wanting to deliver the sweeping, emotionally resonant arcs of literary romance and the snappier pacing of a rom-com screenplay. Key emotional beats that likely resonated in prose feel rushed or flattened on screen. Conversely, moments that might have sparkled with wit in a screenplay are diluted by an overly earnest tone.

This creative push-and-pull leaves the film struggling to find its identity. Instead of confidently embracing either a lighthearted romantic comedy or a poignant romantic drama, it ends up straddling both, with mixed results.

My Oxford Year is a film that wants to be timeless but settles for pleasant. With its attractive cast, charming setting, and easy-to-digest storyline, it will likely find an audience among viewers looking for a gentle romantic escape. But for those hoping for something more profound, more emotionally resonant, or even more comedically sharp, the film falls short.

It’s a quintessential middle-of-the-road romance: glossy, easy on the eyes, and buoyed by Sofia Carson’s star power, but ultimately too predictable and shallow to linger in memory. Like an Oxford postcard tucked into a drawer, it’s lovely to glance at, but it doesn’t demand revisiting.