Annie Murphy and Cooper Raiff meet cute in All That She Wants, and the Toronto Film Festival premiere proves the combination works better than anyone expected. The romantic comedy, which had its World Premiere Sunday night at TIFF, pairs a late-thirties dancer with a grad student in a story that refuses to play by the usual rules.
The film is modest in scope but engaging throughout, which is rare praise for a genre currently full of misses. The key ingredient is the chemistry between Murphy and Raiff, and both deliver it. The plot, dreamed up by screenwriter David West Read — a writer on Schitt’s Creek and Murphy’s real-life partner — keeps the premise clever rather than cruel.
Emma And Luke, Ages Apart
Emma, played by Murphy, is a late-thirties dancer relegated to embarrassing commercial work. Her biological clock is ticking, and the title’s promise — “all that she wants” is a baby — sets the stakes early. She is in a relationship with a dipshit boyfriend named Finn Wittrock, whose stock role here is the kind of man she needs to move past.
Her parents, played by Christine Baranski and Bill Irwin, remind her she is not getting any younger. Her sister, Macy, played by Zosia Mamet, is having a baby with her husband Drew, played by John Gemberling. The family setup gives the film a grounded domestic anchor, and Baranski and Irwin in particular bring warmth to scenes that could easily tip into farce.
The story takes a sharp turn after Emma sleeps with Luke, a grad student she meets while out clubbing. They sleep together in his dorm room, and to her horror, it turns out she babysat for him when he was just a toddler she called Lukie. There is an earlier flashback with a clue, though Deadline’s review does not specify what it reveals. The embarrassment is real, and the future of their relationship looks over before it begins.
A Title Worth Remembering
The title is one of those cutesy ones that reviewers can never quite recall right after seeing the movie. The good news is this one earns its keep. The film is refreshingly smart and funny, and the age-gap romance between Murphy and Raiff is genuinely appealing despite their obvious difference in years.
The film is also a Toronto film through and through. It was shot entirely in the city where it premiered, with no doubling for New York City. That local connection adds to the charm, though the review does not spend much time on the production details beyond noting the setting.
A Plot Built For Laughs
The setup is classic romcom territory, but the execution avoids the traps. Married directing duo Scarlett Bermingham and Andrew Rhymer know just how to stir the pot without drifting into genre cliches. They give audiences what they want and expect, but they do not settle for the easy ending.
The film runs 1 hour and 44 minutes, which fits the modest scale. The review does not describe the pacing in detail, but the runtime suggests a tight edit.
What Happens After The One-Night Stand
Time passes, seasons change, and Christmas becomes a big factor for part of the story. Emma moves on, but Luke keeps coming back into her life. The complications pile up, and eventually, little Lukie — the toddler she once babysat — agrees to father her child before it is too late for her. Nothing more is asked of him.
This being a romcom first and foremost, you know it does not end there. The pair, years apart, have a past, a present, and maybe a future. The review does not spoil the finale, but the trajectory is clear: an age-gap romance that survives its own obstacles.
The Ensemble Cast
The supporting cast grounds the story. Finn Wittrock plays Emma’s ex-boyfriend, a role described as stock but effective. Baranski and Irwin play Emma’s parents, and the review singles them out as wonderful veterans. Mamet plays the sister, and Gemberling plays her husband.
The film’s producers include Tim Headington, Katie Bird Nolan, Theresa Steele Page, Lauren Shelton, and Lindsay Tapscott. The sales agent is CAA.
A Premise That Works
The central trick of All That She Wants is its premise: a woman sleeps with a man she once babysat as a toddler. The review calls it a startling revelation, and the film leans into the embarrassment rather than smoothing it over. The flashback earlier in the film provides a clue, though the review does not explain what it is.
The film does not let the revelation end the story. Whatever future Emma and Luke might have together ends at this embarrassing moment, but actually it does not. The directors find a way to keep the characters connected across the age gap, and the review credits them with avoiding the cliches that trap similar films.
The Review’s Verdict
The review opens with a confession: it did not expect much, but got more than it bargained for. These are people the reviewer genuinely enjoyed spending time with, and Murphy and Raiff are a fine pair. The review hopes the film finds an audience, and it closes with a note that as far as the filmmakers and stars are concerned, all that they want is a distributor.
The review is warm, but it is not uncritical. It acknowledges the modest scale and the genre’s current hit-and-miss state, but it argues that All That She Wants lands on the right side of that ledger.
Key Facts Box
- Title: All That She Wants
- Premiere: Toronto International Film Festival, World Premiere Sunday night
- Directors: Scarlett Bermingham and Andrew Rhymer
- Screenplay: David West Read
- Cast: Annie Murphy, Cooper Raiff, Zosia Mamet, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, John Gemberling, Finn Wittrock
- Runtime: 1 hour and 44 minutes
- Sales Agent: CAA
Why This Pair Works
The appeal of Murphy and Raiff together is the heart of the film. Murphy brings her Emmy-winning work from Schitt’s Creek, while Raiff is an indie stalwart. The chemistry is real, and the film is smart enough to build a plot around it without relying on it alone.
The age-gap romance is the hook, but the film is not just about the difference in years. Emma is a dancer whose career has shifted to commercial work, and her family pressures are real. Luke is a grad student with his own uncertainties. Their shared history as babysitter and toddler adds a layer of absurdity, but the film handles it with care.
The review’s verdict is clear: this is a modest affair that delivers more than expected. It is a smart, funny romcom with real chemistry between two leads who deserve to get together, despite their age difference. The film is worth watching, and the filmmakers are worth rooting for as they seek distribution.
All That She Wants is a reminder that the romantic comedy formula can still work when the writing is sharp and the performers are committed. The age-gap premise is a hook, but the execution is the payoff. The film earns its title, and the review recommends it.
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