{{Short description|2022 film by Maryus Vaysberg}} {{Use American English|date=April 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox film | image = About_fate.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Maryus Vaysberg | screenplay = Tiffany Paulsen | based_on = {{based on|''The Irony of Fate''|Emil Braginsky<br>Eldar Ryazanov}} | producer = {{plainlist| * Marina Bespalov * Sergei Bespalov * Marius Vaysberg * Vincent Newman * Sergey Livnev }} | starring = {{plainlist| * Emma Roberts * Thomas Mann * Britt Robertson * Madelaine Petsch * Wendie Malick * Cheryl Hines * Lewis Tan }} | cinematography = David Hennings | editing = David Dodson | music = Benjamin Zecker | studio = {{Plainlist| * American International Pictures * Aldamisa Entertainment * Contentious Media }} | distributor = United Artists Releasing | released = {{Film date|2022|09|09|United States}} | runtime = 100 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = $504,843<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt14456350/ |title=About Fate (2022) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref> }}
'''''About Fate''''' is a 2022 American romantic comedy film directed by Maryus Vaysberg from a screenplay by Tiffany Paulsen. It is a remake of the 1976 Soviet television film ''The Irony of Fate''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Erizanu |first=Paula |title=Soviet classic The Irony of Fate is getting a Hollywood remake |url=https://www.calvertjournal.com/articles/show/12693/soviet-classic-irony-of-fate-is-getting-a-hollywood-remake |website=The Calvert Journal |access-date=April 22, 2021 |date=April 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Weitzman |first=Elizabeth |date=2022-09-08 |title='About Fate' Film Review: Emma Roberts' Latest Is About as Basic as Rom-Coms Get |url=https://www.thewrap.com/about-fate-movie-review-emma-roberts-thomas-mann/ |website=TheWrap |access-date=2022-09-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Luke Y. |date=2022-09-09 |title=Emma Roberts and Thomas Mann make ''About Fate'' tempting |url=https://www.avclub.com/about-fate-review-emma-roberts-thomas-mann-1849488595 |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=The A.V. Club}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About Fate Movie Review |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/about-fate |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Common Sense Media}}</ref> The film stars Emma Roberts, Thomas Mann, Britt Robertson, Madelaine Petsch, Wendie Malick, Cheryl Hines, and Lewis Tan.
The film was released in select theaters and on digital platforms in the United States on September 9, 2022, by United Artists Releasing.<ref>{{cite web |last=Villei |first=Matt |url=https://collider.com/about-fate-release-date-emma-roberts-thomas-mann/ |title='About Fate': Emma Roberts Rom-Com to Release Digitally and in Select Theaters |website=Collider |date=September 8, 2022 |access-date=September 30, 2022}}</ref>
==Plot== Margot Hayes, a realtor, and Griffin Reed, a lawyer, live in very similar homes, at very similar street addresses, in similarly named communities. On December 30, Margot hopes to be proposed to by her boyfriend Kip, so that she might go to her sister's wedding engaged. However, when it does not happen, she walks out.
Meanwhile, in the same restaurant, Griffin tries to propose to his girlfriend, Instagram influencer Clementine. However, she insists he do it again for her publicly the next night. He then gets day drunk with his buddies, and when they order a taxi for him, they give the driver the wrong address—Margot's, as hers is very similar to his.
Griffin, opening the door with the key left under Margot's flower pot, notices that the cat looks different and the apartment looks strange. However, he is too drunk to care, and falls asleep. Margot comes home to find a naked stranger in her bed.
Kip visits her apartment to pick up his tux and sees Griffin putting on his clothes and gets upset, threatening Griffin and leaves. Margot, needing someone to accompany her to her sister's wedding, convinces Griffin to join her, as no one in her family has seen Kip or knows what he looks like.
The pair goes to the wedding together. Along the way, they meet an older married couple and make friends with them. The woman gives Margot her pink coat, telling her that thanks to the coat, her husband was able to find her after nearly losing her.
After several complications, Margot and Griffin arrive at the wedding where Griffin (claiming to be Kip) becomes an unexpected hit. Unfortunately for Margot, the real Kip shows up, and the whole charade is ruined. Margot and Griffin seem to go back to their respective partners, but realize that they truly care for each other. Margot comes to Griffin's home with the bag that he left at her place. She shows him an old tattoo of a griffin on her shoulder and they fall on his bed together, kissing. A crying Clementine shows up, prompting Margot to leave.
The next day, Griffin meets his parents at the same café where he and Margot had met, and they comfort him, saying he has yet to find his true love. Suddenly, he sees the pink coat, and with it, Margot. They share a kiss.
==Cast== {{Cast listing| * Emma Roberts as Margot Hayes,<ref name="firstphoto">{{cite web|last=Uskov|first=Oleg|title=Марюс Вайсберг показал каст американского ремейка "Иронии судьбы"|url=https://rg.ru/2021/06/12/marius-vajsberg-pokazal-kast-amerikanskogo-remejka-ironii-sudby.html|trans-title=Vaysberg showed the cast of the American remake of "Irony of Fate|language=ru|work=Rossiyskaya Gazeta|date=June 12, 2021|access-date=June 26, 2021}}</ref> based on the character Nadya Shevelyova from ''The Irony of Fate'' * Thomas Mann as Griffin Reed, based on the character Zhenya Lukashin from ''The Irony of Fate'' * Madelaine Petsch as Clementine Pratt, Griffin's girlfriend and an Instagram influencer, based on the character Galya from ''The Irony of Fate'' * Lewis Tan as Kip Prescott, Margot's boyfriend,<ref name="firstphoto" /> based on the character Ippolit from ''The Irony of Fate'' * Britt Robertson as Carrie Hayes, Margot's sister * Fikile Mthwalo as Dana, Margot's co-worker and friend * Jared Troilo as Brian, Carrie's fiancé * Cheryl Hines as Judy Hayes, Margot and Carrie's mother * Dennis Staroselsky as Sam, Griffin's co-worker and friend * Meeghan Holaway as Flour * Ken Cheeseman as Paul Hayes, Margot and Carrie's father * Ricardo Pitts-Wiley as Charlie * Rose Weaver as Hazel * Wendie Malick as Nancy Reed, Griffin's mother }}
==Production== Vaysberg had been planning a remake of ''Irony of Fate'' as early as 2006. Lynda Obst Productions, Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions and Paramount had all considered picking up the film, but plans were only finalized just before the COVID-19 pandemic when Vaysberg and Paulsen teamed up to create a script for the film.
Initially, Vaysberg considered Mila Kunis for the lead female role, believing that Kunis was uniquely suited to the role due to her Soviet roots. While Kunis was pleased with the project, she rejected the role, saying that the project was too "fluffy".<ref>{{cite web |title="О судьбе»: Марюс Вайсберг рассказал о предыстории, подборе актеров и концепции голливудского ремейка «Иронии судьбы" |trans-title="About Fate": Maryus Vaysberg talks about the pre-production, casting of actors and the conception of the Hollywood remake of "Irony of Fate" |url=https://www.afisha.ru/article/news-o-sudbe-maryus-vaysberg-rasskazal-o-predystorii-podbore-akterov-i-koncepcii-gollivudskogo-remeyka-ironii-sudby/ |work=Afisha |date=July 27, 2021 |access-date=September 26, 2021}}</ref>
On April 8, 2021, it was announced that Emma Roberts would star in a film written by Tiffany Paulsen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/emma-roberts-holidate-screenwriter-about-fate-1234730320/ |title=Emma Roberts Reunites With 'Holidate' Screenwriter For Rom-Com 'About Fate' |first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 8, 2021|access-date=April 8, 2021}}</ref> On April 13, Central Partnership announced a remake of ''The Irony of Fate'' starring Roberts and Thomas Mann.<ref>{{cite web |title=В Голливуде снимут "Иронию судьбы" |url=https://www.centpart.ru/item/3043 |publisher=Central Partnership |language=ru|trans-title=Hollywood will film (a remake of) The Irony of Fate|date=April 13, 2021|access-date=April 26, 2021}}</ref>
In an interview with ''Kommersant'', Vaysberg said the film would be in the style of ''The Proposal'' (2009), and expressed confidence that it would translate well to American audiences.<ref>{{cite web |title="Ирония судьбы" переедет в США |language=ru |trans-title= "The Irony of Fate" moves to the USA |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4780606 |work=Kommersant |access-date=April 28, 2021 |date=April 17, 2021}}</ref> Many artists and famous personalities in Russia reacted negatively to the news, including Liya Akhedzhakova and Valentina Talyzina, two of the few remaining living actors from the original film, and the daughter of Eldar Ryazanov, the director of the original ''The Irony of Fate''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Betz |first=Denis |title="Ерунда собачья": Лия Ахеджакова выругалась, узнав о ремейке "Иронии судьбы" |url=https://radiokp.ru/znamenitosti/erunda-sobachya-liya-akhedzhakova-vyrugalas-uznav-o-remeyke-ironii-sudby_nid402476_au31666au |trans-title="Bullshit": Liya Akhedzhakova cursed, when she heard about the remake of "Irony of Fate" |language=ru |publisher=Radio Komsomolskaya Pravda |date=April 16, 2021 |access-date=May 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716114622/https://radiokp.ru/znamenitosti/erunda-sobachya-liya-akhedzhakova-vyrugalas-uznav-o-remeyke-ironii-sudby_nid402476_au31666au |archive-date=July 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Loshkareva |first=Irina |trans-title="It needs to be made by Russians!" Talyzina criticized the idea of a Hollywood remake of "Irony of Fate" |publisher=Radio Komsomolskaya Pravda |language=ru |title="Надо быть русскими!": Талызина раскритиковала идею переснять в Голливуде "Иронию судьбы" |url=https://radiokp.ru/znamenitosti/nado-byt-russkimi-talyzina-raskritikovala-ideyu-peresnyat-v-gollivude-ironiyu-sudby_nid401369_au10665au |date=April 14, 2021 |access-date=May 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611145012/https://radiokp.ru/znamenitosti/nado-byt-russkimi-talyzina-raskritikovala-ideyu-peresnyat-v-gollivude-ironiyu-sudby_nid401369_au10665au |archive-date=June 11, 2021}}</ref>
In May 2021, Lewis Tan and Anna Akana were announced as joining the cast.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |title='Mortal Kombat' Star Lewis Tan Joins Emma Roberts In 'About Fate' |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/mortal-kombat-lewis-tan-emma-roberts-in-about-fate-1234753760/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=May 12, 2021 |date=May 11, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |title=Anna Akana Joins Emma Roberts In Rom Com 'About Fate' |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/anna-akana-emma-roberts-about-fate-1234765556/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 27, 2021 |access-date=May 28, 2021}}</ref> The following month, Madelaine Petsch joined the cast.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |title='Riverdale's Madelaine Petsch Joins Emma Roberts in Rom Com 'About Fate' |url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/riverdales-madelaine-petsch-emma-roberts-about-fate-1234771441/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=June 8, 2021 |access-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref>
Principal photography began in Boston in June 2021,<ref name="Production">{{cite web|url=https://productionlist.com/production/about-fate/ |title=About Fate |website=Production List|date=April 26, 2021|access-date=April 27, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427020107/https://productionlist.com/production/about-fate/ |archive-date=April 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/thomas-mann-emma-roberts-about-fate-1234749802/ |title=Thomas Mann To Co-Star With Emma Roberts In 'About Fate' |first=Justin|last=Kroll|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 4, 2021|access-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Megan |title=Emma Roberts, Garrett Hedlund spotted in Boston as 'About Fate' filming begins |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/13/lifestyle/emma-roberts-garrett-hedlund-spotted-boston-about-fate-filming-begins |work=Boston Globe |date=June 13, 2021 |access-date=June 14, 2021}}</ref> with some exterior location shots on the town common in Norwood, Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web | title="About Fate (2022)-Filming and Production|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14456350/locations?ref_=ttfc_ql_5 |work=IMDb |access-date=November 12, 2022}}</ref>
==Reception== On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 63% based on reviews from 8 critics, with an average rating of 6.8/10.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/about_fate |title=About Fate |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=September 30, 2022}}</ref>
Lisa Kennedy of ''The New York Times'' wrote, "A few coincidences can have their charms" but the film "creaks under the weight of a pile of improbabilities".<ref name="Kennedy2022-09-08">{{cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Lisa |date=September 8, 2022 |title='About Fate' Review: Love the One You're With? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/08/movies/about-fate-review.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=2022-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926065020/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/08/movies/about-fate-review.html |archive-date=2022-09-26}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title}}
Category:2022 films Category:2022 romantic comedy films Category:2022 English-language films Category:American International Pictures films Category:American remakes of foreign films Category:American romantic comedy films Category:Comedy film remakes Category:English-language romantic comedy films Category:Films about weddings in the United States Category:Films directed by Maryus Vaysberg Category:Films set in 1963 Category:Films set in 2021 Category:Films set in 2022 Category:Films set around New Year Category:Films shot in Boston Category:Remakes of Russian films Category:Romance film remakes