The Sun Is Also a Star

Although it’s set in present-day New York, The Sun Is Also a Star has some pretty old-fashioned ideas about romance.

This adaptation of the popular young-adult novel by Nicola Yoon (Everything, Everything) finds conviction in ideas about fate and falling in love that could prove cringe-worthy for anyone with the slightest hint of cynicism about modern romance.

Yet while it’s ultimately doomed by aggressive sentimentality, at least the film’s casually appealing leads reflect the contemporary melting pot within its setting without turning ostentatious about it.

The story takes place during a particularly hectic 24 hours for teenagers Natasha (Yara Shahidi) and Daniel (Charles Melton). She’s scrambling to meet with a lawyer (John Leguizamo) over a last-ditch attempt for her family to avoid deportation to Jamaica. He’s an amateur poet awaiting an alumni interview that could determine whether he’s admitted to the pre-med program at Dartmouth, which would please his father more than himself.

Their stars cross during a narrowly avoided traffic accident, with Daniel theorizing about his ability to win over the skeptical Natasha in short order, unaware of her troubling circumstances. His persistence likewise masks a potential personal obstacle to their relationship.

The screenplay by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip) remains committed to its ideas about intertwined romantic destinies, as loopy as those ideas might be, and the throwback way in which characters are swept off their feet. The script also scrutinizes pitfalls in the immigration system without becoming heavy-handed.

Confident direction by Ry Russo-Young (Before I Fall) incorporates Manhattan’s bustling urban landscapes seamlessly into the story, with visual highlights include an imaginative karaoke sequence set to “Crimson and Clover” that illustrates a pivotal point in Daniel and Natasha’s relationship.

Such moments are fleeting, however, in a film that fails to establish a lasting emotional connection alongside its narrative gimmicks. The cryptic title — taken from the book — is meant to supplement the mumbo-jumbo about cosmic connections that doesn’t translate from page to screen.

The eye-rolling contrivances start to pile up in the second half, and The Sun Is Also a Star loses much of its shine. As the characters try to find light amid the darkness, it becomes difficult for moviegoers to do the same.

Rated PG-13, 100 minutes.