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The 2022 romantic, comedy\/drama The Storied Life of AJ Fikry<\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em> is a lot like a Hallmark<\/a> film, or a Lifetime<\/em> offering. But better. Let me explain. <\/p>\n The aforementioned channels, or studios (?) both have one thing in common. Repetitive stories. <\/p>\n Hallmark, and Lifetime, give us stories that are cardboard cutouts. Stars that play the same role in every tale and the same type of \u201cgoofy\u201d plotlines that never happen in real life. <\/p>\n *Okay. So I\u2019ll put the skids on here and admit that Lucy Hale<\/a> is in a lot of \u201cquirky\u201d romantic comedies at the moment. Some may even be on the previous channels. And admittedly, the story of The Storied Life of AJ Fikry<\/strong><\/em> feels like a Hallmark\/Lifetime clone. <\/p>\n However.*<\/p>\n AJ is the owner of a bookstore on Alice Island. He is also a recent widower, at the start of the story, and a new parent. He meets Amelia and the two fall in love. Behind this is the missing copy of Tamerlane; the poems by Poe are priceless and it is AJ\u2019s \u201csavings.\u201d <\/p>\n Christina Hendricks<\/a> is Ismay Evans sister to AJ\u2019s late wife and family friend.<\/p>\n Lucy Hale<\/a> is Amelia; the main love interest.<\/p>\n Scott Foley<\/a> is Daniel. Husband of Ismay and celebrity author.<\/p>\n Kunal Nayyar<\/a> is our erstwhile owner of Tamerlane and the bookstore and father to Maya.<\/p>\n David Arquette<\/a> is Lambiase; local police chief, detective and man with a crush on Ismay. He is also a devout reader. <\/p>\n Maya is played by: <\/p>\n Lauren Stamile<\/a> as Leonora.<\/p>\n Joe Penczak<\/a> as Leon Friedman.<\/p>\n Lizzy Brooks<\/a> is Maya\u2019s Mum: Marion Wallace.<\/p>\n Hans Canosa<\/a> directs The Storied Life of AJ Fikry<\/strong><\/em> with a deft yet, at times, frothy touch. Gabrielle Zevin<\/a> adapts her novel into a compelling screenplay. Cinematographer Alex Vendler<\/a> makes a brilliant picture of each frame. There is true art here, in terms of lighting and colour. The editor; Jason Nicholson<\/a> snaps everything together like a simplistic puzzle of images. <\/p>\n All those in charge of making Alice Island and its occupants and buildings look as real as any local town in America, definitely succeed.<\/p>\n The Storied Life of AJ Fikry<\/strong><\/em> works on many levels. Although the film was made in 2022 it feels as fresh as flower blooming today. Hale and Hayyar make a brilliant if \u201cdifferent worlds\u201d couple brought together by their love of books. <\/p>\n The entire backstory, or periphery if you will, is about people who adore the written word. The Police Chief, Ismay, Maya, Leonora, et al, love books. It is this that makes this Hallmark \u201cclone\u201d work so well.<\/p>\n The Storied Life of AJ Fikry<\/strong><\/em> earns a full 5 stars from me. Why? Because, for the entire length of this romantic, comedy drama, I cared. Not just for the main characters but all of them. I cried at the ending and felt real loss. This is on Netflix right now. Head over and watch it.<\/p>\n \nThe story<\/h4>\n
The Cast<\/h4>\n
A Different Cast Listing<\/h6>\n
Kudos To<\/h6>\n
Behind the camera<\/h4>\n
It all works<\/h4>\n
The verdict<\/h4>\n
The trailer<\/h4>\n