In her feature directorial debut,Bonus Track, Julia Jackman has created an immensely charmingromance. With help from a script co-written by Michael Gilbert and Josh O’Connor (yes, that Josh O’Connor) that is equal parts silly and sweet, the end resultseems impossible to dislike. The central pair are George and Max, played by Joe Anders and Samuel Small, two 16-year-old boys living in small-town England. George is far from academically gifted, but his aspirations lie in the music industry. So, when Max — theson of a famous musician— arrives at his school, the two join forces to prepare a song for the end-of-year talent show.
The drama is relatively low stakes: Max having a famous father makes him the topic of tabloid speculation and George’s parents are going through a tumultuous time in their relationship. However, those plot threads could really be anything, as they just work in service of the central romance. As with the majority of rom-coms,the story is predictable, but because everything is so well done, it feels fresh and new. Not to mention, after decades ofso few queer romancesout there, any addition to the catalog is welcome.
Smile-Inducing Romantic Chemistry
Bonus Track
A rom-com hinges almost entirely onthe chemistry between the two leads. Fortunately, Anders and Small have it in spades. While both actors are great, Small is particularly impressive on this front, conveying amusement, genuine interest, and flirtation all at once in his glances. The authentic awkwardness and clumsy flirting between these two are enough to have you smiling at the screen in spite of yourself.Bonus Trackbrings to mind the equally sweetSing Streetfrom 2016, not only because of its musical theme, but the two share a similar simple charm.
Others have compared the romance to the seriesHeartstopper, which makes sense on the surface, given that both follow teenage schoolboys falling in love. However, whileHeartstopperfeels overly sincere in wrong ways, resulting in stilted dialogue and a patronizing tone,Bonus Trackfeels real. This is because it manages to balancea relatively wholesome approach with some sharper humor to better reflect the realities of being 16and, in the case of our main character, really quite strange.
Whereas Small’s performance as Max brings warmth to the romantic elements of the story, Anders' depiction of George is endearingly odd. He doesn’t know how to talk to people, dresses in his mother’s clothes, and behaves somewhat like a grumpy middle-aged man, but somehow it all comes together. When (spoiler, sorry) his parents tell him they’re going to spend some time apart, his first response is to ask if it’s because he got his ear pierced. It’s easy to see how the more conventional and popular Max is charmed by George, despite how mismatched they might seem to the naked eye.
If Homophobia Didn’t Exist in 2006…
Depending on your perspective, one aspect of the movie that could help or hinder your experience is that these characters exist in a miraculous world where no one was homophobic in 2006. Some might argue that it’s unrealistic wishful thinking — but what else are movies for? In contrast, this move actually serves the story well, because it helps the climax to avoid the most obvious route.
Rom-coms tend to follow the same formula, and as soon as this one began it seemed clear how it would all come to a head. But, without giving away too much, the story here was more about the characters requiring growth rather than being pulled apart by outside forces. This makes it all much more surprising and emotionally satisfying.
When a romance centers around an LGBTQ+ couple, the easy way to introduce conflict is to include a source of homophobia, and this is how the majority of queer romances on-screen play out. There’s no denying that this is true in so many people’s real lives, and it’s important that those stories get told. However,it’s also important that there is room for lighter, escapist romances like this, because not everything needs to revolve around trauma.It’s all about balance.
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Some Subtlety, Thank God!
As mentioned, the personal growth that comes with the climax here is well executed. Not only does it make sense emotionally and narratively, but it’s also something that hits home for the audience. Rather than a simple moral lesson like “you need to love yourself in order to be loved,” or “just be yourself,“there’s a broader, richer message. George has to learn that he’s in control of his own life, for better or worse, which might sound obvious, but it’s one thing to know something intellectually and another to internalize and understand it.
George not being able to ask for what he wants or confess his feelings out of fear is obviously nothing groundbreaking, but the great acting and connection built between the characters and the audience make the moment feel solid. Beyond just the character’s journey, the way in which fear and anxiety can hold you back from being a good friend and partner is all too real. In addition,it’s all conveyed with enough subtlety to avoid any eye-rolls and groans(another thing it beats its peers on).
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Overall,it’s really hard to faultBonus Trackfor anything when it’s just so charming. In an age of overly polished rom-comsthat lack real chemistry, this is what we’ve been missing. Some sweet smaller components that go a long way in building the movie’s world include a brief cameo from Josh O’Connor in an odd (in the best way) little role anda well-selected soundtrackthat features everything from Hot Chip to Wheatus. This rom-com is absolutely worth seeking out — we can guarantee you’ll be smiling and kicking your feet.
Bonus Trackwill be in select theaters on Aug 04, 2025. The film will be available to a wider audience when it releases on VOD on February 11, just in time for Valentine’s Day.Check out the trailer below,
