Some movies shock you. Some do it by way of purposeful design, and every now and then, a movie comes along and completely obliterates expectations. “Purple Hearts” is one such film. It has no business being as good as it is — and I mean that statement with the highest of praise.
The story, at its core, is about unexpected love, and learning to live with your wounds, both physical, and other. It’s sheathed, however, in a storyline about a mutually beneficial “fake” marriage to a U.S. Marine, Luke Morrow (Nicholas Galitzine). Luke is a ne’er-do-well with a checkered past. He enlists with the Marines to earn back the trust and respect of his father. It’s revealed later in the story what transpired to tarnish that bond between father and son.
Aware of the Times, but Open-Minded
Cassie (Sofia Carson) is a tough, no nonsense young woman with an exceptional talent for singing and song writing. Yet she boasts an empty bank account and past due rent notices stapled to her door. To complicate things further, she’s also a Type 1 Diabetic. The movie introduces us to the nuanced realities of living with such a complex condition, and it does so in a masterfully relatable way. Unlike many films where disease is present, “Purple Hearts” does not glorify the condition, nor does it punish the audience with it. It simply presents it in such a way that for the duration of the film you are unconsciously aware of it — and that’s brilliant poignancy.
Like a lot of modern cinema today, this film is indeed aware of the times. However, it does not pontificate political talking points in a way that presents one as more superior than the other. The banter shared by both Cassie and Luke is incredulously believable, and at times really fun to watch. Cassie is considered a “Liberal” by Luke, and inversely, Luke is a gun-toting, war mongerer. We see glimpses into both their judgements, as well as seeing how both are wrong about the other — again, intelligent storytelling.
Good Chemistry Between Carson and Galitzine
With Cassie confronting the inability to pay for her insulin, and Luke’s past continuing to haunt him with a sinister debt yet to be paid, they both agree to get married and utilize the USMC’s spousal benefits. For Cassie, this comes in the form of free healthcare; and for Luke, it’s a bump in his salary, which he plans to use to pay off an insidious figure from his former life.
With a perfect combination of sassy and sweet, the chemistry on screen between Cassie and Luke provide the audience with a heartwarming story that we can all relate to — trying to be better versions of ourselves than we were yesterday.
“Purple Hearts” is now available to stream on Netflix.
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