“Another abysmal adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel, Michael Showalter’s Verity is a vapid psychosexual drama with bumpy pacing, an eye-rolling plot, and paper-thin characters.”
True to Hoover’s style, Lowen and Jeremy quickly bond over shared traumas—his daughter’s tragic death and her mother’s recent passing. Their connection is hastily formed through awkward dialogue in a men’s restroom. Soon, Lowen discovers that Jeremy is Verity’s husband, and she is offered the task of completing his comatose wife’s novel series. Facing eviction, Lowen agrees, moving into the Crawfords’ expansive Vermont home.
In Vermont, Lowen encounters Verity, now a mere shadow of her former self. The film largely sidelines Hathaway’s character, relegating her to brief appearances and flashbacks as Lowen delves into Verity’s secret autobiography. The narrative attempts to animate these reading scenes by projecting words onscreen and superimposing Lowen into past events, but these efforts fall flat.
The film drags as Lowen repeatedly abandons the autobiography, despite its tantalizing revelations about Verity’s marriage and possible involvement in her daughter’s death. This slow progression feels like an unnecessary delay, detracting from any potential engagement with Johnson’s character.
Screenwriter Nick Antosca hints at underlying tensions between Jeremy and Verity, particularly regarding her success, but these themes are only superficially explored. The script culminates in a rushed final act that dumps revelations without adequate build-up. Antosca’s examination of narrative reliability is present but underdeveloped, and director Michael Showalter’s approach lacks the creativity and flair seen in his previous works like “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and “The Big Sick.”
“To misquote Lady Catherine from Pride and Prejudice: ‘Are the shades of cinema to be thus polluted?’”
Anne Hathaway, who has recently delivered outstanding performances in films such as “The Odyssey” and “Mother Mary,” finds herself in a disappointing final role for 2026 with “Verity.” This film serves as a stark reminder that perhaps it’s time to pause the stream of Colleen Hoover adaptations. Despite the involvement of talented actors like Hathaway, Johnson, and Hartnett, “Verity” is a lackluster psychosexual drama that struggles with pacing and characterization, leaving audiences more amused than enthralled.
Article Source: www.ign.com
