WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Love At First Sight.
Summary
- Love At First Sight adds a narrator to the movie, giving more insight into Oliver's perspective and their connection.
- The movie changes how Hadley and Oliver meet, with a small but significant difference in the airport scene.
- The characters' ages are older in the film, reflecting the actors' ages and making the romance more believable. Other differences include storylines from the books that are not in the film and the ending itself.
Love At First Sight is based on the young adult novel The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight by Jennifer Smith, and there are several differences between the movie and the book. The film stars Haley Lu Richardson as Hadley Sullivan and Ben Hardy as Oliver Jones. Love At First Sight follows the characters as they meet at an airport and slowly fall in love throughout the story, with bits that are very similar to the original story, while other elements are changed.
While the plot remains mostly the same in the book and film, aside from the title change, there are some important differences in the story. This is to be expected as all the details that can fit into a book usually can't fit into a film, especially one as short as Love At First Sight. Here are a few of the biggest differences between Smith's novel and the new Netflix film, from the beginning of the story to the Love At First Sight ending.
8 Love At First Sight Adds A Narrator The Book Didn't Have
The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight is told mainly from Hadley's perspective using third-person narration. This means Oliver's perspective and story are pretty limited. The movie changes this by having actress Jameela Jamil narrate the film, giving more insight into Oliver's side of the story. Jamil doesn't act as much of a character and doesn't interact with Oliver or Hadley. Instead, she's more of a guardian angel watching over their relationship and filling the audience in on their connection.
7 There's A Slight Change In How Oliver & Hadley Meet In The Movie
A small change between the book and movie versions of Love At First Sight is in the meet-cute between Hadley and Oliver. In the book, Hadley and Oliver meet at the airport when Oliver offers to help Hadley with her luggage. However, in the movie, Hadley and Oliver meet while waiting at the terminal, when Oliver lets Hadley use his phone charger after the one she tries to use is dead.
6 Oliver & Hadley Are Older In The Movie Than They Are In The Book
This may seem like a pretty random change, but it actually makes more sense for the characters to be older in the movie. In The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight, Hadley is only 17 years old, and Oliver is 18. However, in the film, Hadley is 20, and Oliver is 22. This better reflects the actor's ages, as Haley Lu Richardson is 28 in real life, and Ben Hardy is 32. It also makes the story more believable since the book characters might come across as too young to have the romance that Hasley and Oliver have.
5 Hadley's Mother Isn't A Big Part Of The Film
In The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight, Hadley's family dynamic is a major plot point. The character struggles with her father leaving her and her mother for another woman, and she often leans on her mother for . Unfortunately, this storyline isn't present in the film, as Hadley's mother only makes a brief appearance in a flashback scene at the beginning of the movie.
The movie likely cut this out so it could focus more on Hadley and Oliver's love story. After all, the film is only an hour and 30 minutes long, so there's only so much that could fit in. If Love At First Sight focused on Hadley's relationship with her mother, it may not have delivered the romantic relationship between her and Oliver as well.
4 In The Book, Oliver Attends His Father's Funeral
One of the biggest differences between the book and the movie is in regard to Oliver's family. In the book, Oliver is on the plane with Hadley because he is on the way to his father's funeral. It's also mentioned that he doesn't have the best relationship with his dad. Oliver's family dynamic is drastically different in the film as not only does he get along with his family, but his father is alive and well.
Instead, Oliver is on his way to his mother's memorial, but there's a huge catch. Oliver's mother is still alive, but she is dying, so she decided to have a memorial while she is still alive so she can experience it for herself. This is a pretty significant change, but it's one that benefits the movie and adds some comedy to it, as Oliver's mother finds the situation pretty funny.
3 Oliver & Hadley Kiss At The Airport In The Book
In The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight, Hadley and Oliver kiss at the airport before leaving each other behind. This kiss was cut out of the film, and instead, they only kiss at the end of the movie. The reason was most likely to build up suspense until they met again and to make their first kiss more romantic. In the film, their first kiss comes at the very end of Love At First Sight when they reunite and kiss under the glowing pink lights of the wedding reception venue. It's a much more romantic first kiss than the one in the book.
2 There Was Baby Drama In The Love At First Sight Book
Another storyline that was completely written out of the Love At First Sight film was the one where Hadley thought her new stepmother was pregnant. Hadley overheard her stepmother discussing a baby with her father and assumed the two were expecting, but decided not to let Hadley in on the secret. Hadley already had a strained relationship with her father since he left her and her mother, but his not telling her that his new wife was pregnant worsened their bond.
It turns out this wasn't the case, and the two were only discussing their desire to have a child together in the future and that they wanted Hadley to be a part of the baby's life. This didn't come up in the film at all, and while it would have added to the storyline of her and her father's relationship, it wasn't necessary. Like the storyline with her mother, it would have distracted the movie from its main romance.
1 The Love At First Sight Movie Gives A Look Into Oliver & Hadley's Future
The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight ends with Hadley and Oliver getting together but having no say in what their future might bring. Due to the addition of Jameela Jamil as a narrator, the actress offers information on what happens to the couple in future events not showcased in the film. Jamil states that the two go on to get married and stay together for 58 years.
They also welcome a daughter into their lives throughout their marriage. Hadley is there for Oliver when his mother es away, and Oliver remains by Hadley's side as she es away in old age. It's a sweet ending for Love At First Sight that gives a satisfying look into their future that the book left out.
