Love Hard 2021

Natalie Bauer, a dating column writer based in Los Angeles, finds herself navigating the often tumultuous waters of modern romance as she documents her misadventures with dates sourced from a dating app. Determined to break free from her streak of disasters, she decides to widen her search radius and soon connects with a charming man named Josh Lin. Their connection blossoms through countless long phone calls, leading Natalie to concoct a surprise visit to Josh’s hometown in Lake Placid, New York, just in time for Christmas. She believes this trip will mark the end of her dating woes, but fate has other plans in store.

Upon her arrival, she unfortunately discovers that she has been catfished; Josh had used another man’s photos. Fueled by a mix of anger and curiosity, Natalie learns that Tag Abbott, the man whose photos were misappropriated, is actually Josh’s childhood friend residing in the same town. In a twist that complicates matters further, Josh proposes that Natalie pretends to be his girlfriend over the holidays in an effort to save face, and she reluctantly agrees to join the Lin family festivities.

During her time with the Lin family, Natalie meets a myriad of characters, including Owen Lin, Josh’s ambitious brother, who consistently seeks the limelight. As Natalie plays along with Josh’s ruse, she finds herself embroiled in a blossoming romance with Tag while juggling the demands of her burgeoning relationship with Josh. While trying to impress Tag, she fabricates interests like Henry David Thoreau and rock climbing. This leads to a particularly challenging climbing session at a gym, where she must hide her acrophobia, only to later rely on Josh to help her down from the heights.

As the holiday festivities continue, tensions soar when Natalie’s and Josh’s duet of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” earns them accolades, inciting jealousy in Owen, who reveals that he and his wife are expecting a child. In an effort to regain attention, Josh unexpectedly proposes to Natalie, and she feels cornered into accepting, swayed by his insistence that they can retract the engagement post-holidays. Amidst this emotional turmoil, Natalie unveils a hidden aspect of Josh’s character—his passion for candle-making, a hobby rooted in memories of his late grandfather. Inspired, she encourages him to turn this cherished pastime into a business venture.

However, their fabricated engagement takes a chaotic turn when their announcement is splashed across the local paper, compelling them to gather all copies to shield it from Tag. Reflecting on Josh’s disingenuous dating profile, Natalie urges him to embrace authenticity and showcase his true self. But as she struggles to uphold her vegetarian beliefs during a dinner with Tag, she gets into a heated disagreement with Josh, who reminds her of her own dishonesties.

The morning after, a routine Q&A session about online dating at a local nursing home becomes a comical ordeal when residents stray from the topic, sharing exaggerated stories to attract potential partners. In a moment of vulnerability, Josh delivers an impassioned speech about the importance of honesty, inadvertently acknowledging his feelings for Natalie and sparking a realization within her. Nonetheless, the nursing home residents remain oblivious, and Josh, grappling with his emotions, begins to confront his need for honesty.

The Lin family organizes an unexpected engagement party for Josh and Natalie at the steakhouse owned by Tag’s family. The event spirals into turmoil when Natalie’s boss exposes her dating column, prompting Owen to insinuate that Natalie is merely using Josh for her article. Feeling compelled to stand her ground, Natalie delivers a heartfelt speech revealing the truth to everyone present, including Tag, before abruptly leaving the Lin household. Empowered by her love for Josh, she encourages him to embrace his true aspirations rather than cling to the family business.

Later, while awaiting her morning flight at the lodge, Natalie witnesses Josh’s reformed profile on the dating app—one that genuinely reflects who he is. In a moment of clarity, she acknowledges her love for him and races back to his house, culminating in a tender kiss that promises a new beginning filled with honesty, love, and the potential for real happiness.