What Is I Love You Too About?
The premise of I Love You Too in 281 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the gentle hum of a suburban landscape, Jim drifts through his thirties while working at a miniature railway, a job as small‑scaled as the world he seems content to keep at arm’s length. He resides in a cramped granny flat tucked behind his sister’s house, a space that mirrors his reluctance to grow up and the safety of familiar routines. The everyday rhythms of the railway and the quiet of the back garden create a backdrop where ordinary moments feel both comforting and confining, setting a tone that balances low‑key humor with a tender melancholy.
Alice, Jim’s English girlfriend of three years, patiently waits for the one phrase that could reshape their future. Her disappointment is palpable, yet she remains hopeful, even contemplating a move back to England to escape the stagnation that haunts their relationship. Around them, Marie, Jim’s pregnant sister, maneuvers through her own challenges with an oafish husband, Owen, whose presence adds a layer of familial chaos to the otherwise measured world. Jim’s close friend, Blake, provides a sliver of comic relief and a reminder that the world outside his railway whisper is louder and messier than he allows himself to admit.
Amid this modest tableau, a chance encounter with Charlie, a talented dwarf with an unexpected perspective on love and expression, offers Jim a glimpse of a different way to articulate the feelings he keeps bottled up. Their budding friendship sparks the possibility that the right words might finally surface, suggesting that growth can emerge from the most unlikely alliances. The film unfolds as a quiet, observant comedy, celebrating imperfect love, awkward confessions, and the messy, often humorous paths people travel to say what truly matters.
What Happens in I Love You Too?
The complete story of I Love You Too, from the first scene to the last, in 398 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
Jim [Brendan Cowell] is a thirty-three-year-old, emotionally stunted man who works at a miniature railway, and refuses to grow up. He lives in the granny flat at the back of his sister’s house. Jim’s pregnant sister Marie [Bridie Carter] struggles with her oafish husband, Owen [Travis McMahon].
Jim cannot commit to his English girlfriend of three years, Alice [Yvonne Strahovski], who is very disappointed that Jim can’t tell her that he loves her. Hoping to drive her boyfriend into saying those magical words, she considers taking a job in England, but to no avail.
After a drunken night on the town with his mate Blake [Pete Helliar], Jim unsuccessfully attempts to steal a car owned by Charlie [Peter Dinklage]. Discovering an undelivered love letter Charlie wrote to Francesca Moretti [Megan Gale], Jim cajoles Charlie into helping him mend his relationship with Alice. Jim’s first attempt at a love letter fails as he is unable to express the words so he copies Charlie’s original letter and gives it to Alice. Alice knows that the words aren’t Jim’s and is not impressed.
Jim returns to Charlie’s place and Charlie realises Jim copied his letter. Charlie tells Jim the words have to come from him so over a long afternoon and bottles of shiraz, Jim manages to write many rough drafts but he screws up all his work and gives up.
Although Jim fails with Alice, he commits Charlie to deliver his 3-year-old love letter. Charlie reveals that Francesca is supermodel Francesca Moretti [Megan Gale] with whom he is obsessed. Luckily Moretti is in town on a promotional tour and Jim takes Charlie to her book signing. Charlie gets cold feet and leaves but Jim hand-delivers the letter.
Meanwhile, Charlie visits Alice and gives her a shoebox of Jim’s writings, telling her, His handwriting’s terrible, he writes like a doctor who lost both hands in the war. The words are coming; they’re not quite there yet, but they’re close.
Later that evening Francesca reads Charlie’s letter then invites him for a drink at her hotel. The two enjoy a pleasant evening together.
Blake uses his influence to stall Alice’s taxi ride to the airport to allow Jim to express his true feelings and to propose to her.
A quiet, observant comedy about imperfect love, awkward confessions, and the messy way people sometimes find their way toward saying what they truly feel.
I Love You Too Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Jim's stagnant life in the granny flat” to “Blake stalls the journey to England to save Jim”. 13 events name a place, across 8 locations.
- 1
Jim's stagnant life in the granny flat
Jim is a thirty-three-year-old who works at a miniature railway and refuses to grow up. He lives in the granny flat at the back of his sister Marie's house, trapped in a steady, unfulfilling routine. This stagnant life sets the stage for the romantic misadventures to come.
Where:Granny flat behind Marie's house
- 2
Marie and Owen's tension at home
Marie, Jim's sister, struggles with her oafish husband Owen, adding strain to the family's dynamics. The domestic tensions contrast with Jim's fear of commitment. These pressures illuminate Jim's emotional immaturity.
Where:Marie's home
- 3
Alice's demand for love and England move
Alice, Jim's English girlfriend of three years, is disappointed that he can't say 'I love you.' She even considers taking a job in England to provoke a confession. The looming possibility of separation pushes Jim toward action, even if he lacks the words.
Where:Alice's home
- 4
Drunken night and a failed car theft
After a drunken night on the town with his friend Blake, Jim attempts to steal a car owned by Charlie and fails. The impulsive caper launches a chain of events that will pull Jim toward Charlie and the idea of writing a meaningful letter. The failed heist marks the first crack in Jim's routine.
When:Night Where:City streets
- 5
Jim finds Charlie's undelivered letter
Jim discovers an undelivered love letter Charlie wrote to Francesca and realizes an opportunity. He cajoles Charlie into helping him mend his relationship with Alice, launching a plan built on borrowed words. The discovery plants the seed for the central letter plot.
Where:Charlie's place
- 6
Copying the letter and deceiving Alice
Jim's first attempt at a love letter ends in failure when he copies Charlie's exact words and hands them to Alice. Alice recognizes the borrowed words and is unimpressed, sensing the words aren't coming from Jim. The deception creates a deeper rift between them.
Where:Alice's home
- 7
Charlie exposes the copying
Back at Charlie's place, Charlie realizes Jim copied his letter. He insists that the words must come from Jim himself, not borrowed from someone else. This confrontation pushes Jim to try writing from his own heart.
Where:Charlie's place
- 8
An afternoon of drafts and failure
Over a long afternoon and several bottles of shiraz, Jim crafts rough drafts but keeps screwing them up. He nearly gives up, revealing his struggle to express genuine feelings. The scene tests his resolve to win Alice with something truly his own.
When:Afternoon Where:Charlie's place
- 9
Francesca Moretti revealed and plan to deliver letter
Although Jim fails with Alice, he commits Charlie to deliver his three-year-old love letter. Charlie reveals that Francesca Moretti, the supermodel he obsessively adores, is the target of his fantasy. Jim's fixation heightens the stakes of making the letter feel sincere.
Where:Charlie's place
- 10
The book signing and hand-delivered letter
Francesca is in town for a promotional tour, and Jim drags Charlie to her book signing. Charlie chickens out, but Jim ultimately hand-delivers the letter to Francesca's signing and hopes for a miracle. The moment merges celebrity fantasy with a mortal attempt at honesty.
Where:Francesca's book signing
Show the other 3 events of I Love You Too Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Charlie's letters reach Alice
Charlie visits Alice and gives her a shoebox of Jim's writings, remarking on Jim's terrible handwriting. He tells Alice that the words are coming, just not yet ready. The gift deepens Alice's sense of Jim's struggle and the widening gap between them.
Where:Alice's home
- 12
Francesca reads the letter and invites a drink
Francesca reads Charlie's letter and invites him for a drink at her hotel. The encounter is pleasant and suggests a possible romance, though it remains unclear if Jim's words will ever be truly his own. The moment highlights the lure of celebrity and fantasy.
Where:Francesca's hotel
- 13
Blake stalls the journey to England to save Jim
Blake uses his influence to stall Alice's taxi ride to the airport, buying time for Jim to express his true feelings. The ruse culminates in Jim's opportunity to propose, aiming to secure a future with Alice. The plan crystallizes Jim's long-awaited confession.
When:Evening Where:Airport taxi stand
Who Are the Main Characters in I Love You Too?
7 characters, among them Jim (Brendan Cowell), Alice (Yvonne Strahovski) and Charlie (Peter Dinklage): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Jim (Brendan Cowell)
Played by Brendan Cowell
A thirty-three-year-old man who is emotionally stunted and struggles to commit in love. He works at a miniature railway and lives in his sister's granny flat, clinging to childish habits while craving genuine connection.
- 💬 Conversation
- 🧠 Insecurity
- 💔 Commitment issues
- A(
Alice (Yvonne Strahovski)
Played by Yvonne Strahovski
Jim's English girlfriend who is tired of his inability to say 'I love you' and contemplates moving to England to escape unresolved feelings.
- 💬 Conversation
- ✈️ Travel
- 💔 Heartbreak
-
Charlie (Peter Dinklage)
Played by Peter Dinklage
A small-statured, intense romantic who writes love letters and becomes entangled in Jim's efforts to win Alice. He sees himself as a mentor of romance, but his obsession with Francesca complicates matters.
- 💌 Love letters
- 🧭 Obsession
- 🎭 Mentor
- FM
Francesca Moretti (Megan Gale)
Played by Megan Gale
Supermodel Francesca, the object of Charlie's obsession and Jim's catalyst; her celebrity status adds glamour and tension to the pursuit of romance.
- ✨ Glamour
- 💃 Celebrity
- 💖 Attraction
- M(
Marie (Bridie Carter)
Played by Bridie Carter
Jim's pregnant sister who endures an unhappy marriage with Owen, serving as a domestic counterpoint to Jim's romantic aspirations.
- 👩👧👦 Family
- 💔 Unhappy marriage
- 🏠 Domestic life
- O(
Owen (Travis McMahon)
Played by Travis McMahon
Marie's husband, a brute whose presence underscores the tension within the family and contrasts with Jim's gentler longing.
- 💔 Domestic conflict
- 🧍♂️ Masculine presence
- 🏠 Family tension
- B(
Blake (Pete Helliar)
Played by Pete Helliar
Jim's friend who catalyzes a drunken night out and indirectly influences Jim's reckless plan to win Alice.
- 🎉 Fun
- 🥃 Nightlife
- 👫 Friendship
Where and When Is I Love You Too Set?
I Love You Too is set in Australia (Contemporary present day). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Contemporary present day
The film unfolds in modern times, with characters navigating relationships, career, and travel in a present-day context. Love, honesty, and personal growth are tested through public encounters and private conversations within urban and domestic spaces. Key events occur around book signings, hotels, and airport scenes, anchoring the story in a current era.
Where
Australia
Set against Australian settings, the story centers on domestic spaces and urban hangouts. Jim lives in the granny flat behind his sister's house, a cramped environment that highlights his childish reluctance to grow up. Public scenes—Francesca Moretti's book signing, hotel meetings, and an airport farewell—show romance playing out in a contemporary, celebrity-influenced world.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🎭 Drama
- 💘 Romance
What Are the Themes of I Love You Too?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Communication, Love and Growth and Celebrity and Fantasy.
-
01
Communication
Jim cannot express his true feelings in his own words, resorting to borrowed letters and hesitant drafts. The plot probes how genuine communication is essential for real connection. Charlie’s guidance contrasts with the danger of relying on templates or clever words rather than truth.
-
02
Love and Growth
Romance here requires vulnerability rather than performance. Jim's journey moves from fear of commitment to articulating affection in his own voice. The narrative suggests true love deepens when individuals dare to speak honestly and openly.
-
03
Celebrity and Fantasy
Francesca and the world of book signings and tours highlight the tension between fantasy idealization and real intimacy. The pursuit of an iconic partner can distort genuine connection if not grounded in reality. The film uses celebrity culture to explore how longing adapts when confronted with public perception.
What Kind of Film Is I Love You Too?
Hopeful in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Hopeful
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Low
- Ending
- Happy
A gentle and observant romantic comedy that explores the awkward journey of emotional growth with a hopeful tone, focusing on the struggle to express love authentically.
- awkward
- hopeful
- gentle
- observant
- relaxed
- tender
- romantic struggles
- emotional immaturity
- personal growth
- friendship
Quiz
How well do you remember I Love You Too? Test yourself on the story.
