Sparks & Embers, film review: a very undercharged affair, which never flickers into life

The film flits back and forth from the present day back to that first, sweaty encounter in the lift.

Gavin Boyter’s deeply contrived, low-budget British romcom has a couple raking over their relationship during a final meeting on London’s Southbank. They split up several months before. Tom (Kris Marshall) is a freewheeling and impulsive record company exec. Eloise (Annelise Hesme) is an uptight French management consultant.

In flashback, we learn of the bizarre circumstances in which they first met. They were stuck in a malfunctioning office lift together. At the time, Tom had just lost his job, on her recommendation. It was loathing at first sight but, as they waited for the engineer to travel in from Boreham Wood to rescue them, they became more and more attracted to one another .

The film flits back and forth from the present day back to that first, sweaty encounter in the lift. Boyter’s screenplay doesn’t even begin to explain why, having fallen in love, they split up. Her Eurostar back to Paris is due to leave in barely an hour but, as they potter around and reminisce, they decide that, actually, they do still fancy each other after all. The performances from the two leads are amiable enough but this is a very undercharged affair, which never really flickers into life.

Gavin Boyter, 88 mins Starring: Kris Marshall, Annelise Hesme