Finding love is difficult, Things Like This reminds us, but not impossible.

Following Zack Anthony (writer/director Max Talisman), a hopeful writer who’s rather down on his luck romantically, Things Like This may be set in our current era, but it has the vibe of the early-2000s rom-coms that have, more or less, shaped a generation. Zack has plenty of game, but what he’s really looking for is a boyfriend, which echoes the spirit of so many adored rom-coms.

One of the tropes this film does well is the meet-cute. At the beginning, there is a montage of moments where Zack Anthony and Zack Mandel (Joey Pollari) nearly run into each other, but every time something happens that pulls one of them into a different direction. And then, when they do finally meet, it’s just as cute and awkward as you’d hope it to be.

Though Zack Mandel has a boyfriend, Eric (Taylor Trensch), it’s definitely more one-sided than reciprocal. So when both Zacks meet at a party thrown for aspiring singer Lily Avalon (Mili Diaz), it’s easy to see how Zack Mandel, though upfront about having a boyfriend at the start, begins to quickly fall for Zack Anthony.

Their relationship, as it grows, isn’t flawless. Both Zacks need a lot of soul-searching for what they want and who they are as people–the good thing is that they both help each other to grow into that. Love isn’t about fixing someone: It’s about seeing their flaws and loving them anyway.

It also boasts a great supporting cast, including Jackie Cruz and Charlie Tahan. Their roles support the Zacks in crucial ways, making them the kind of steadfast friends that can be relied on, even in tough times. Though slightly underutilized, Cruz shines the way she did in Orange is the New Black, stealing the scene while also managing to leave room for her scene partner. Tahan is equally as good, though still somewhat quiet.

Representation, even when flawed, matters

Things Like This is earnest in many very sweet ways, but it does unfortunately fall victim to cliches now and again that hinder the story instead of help it. Some many love its saccharine sweetness, some may not. But if you like a feel-good, find-yourself-and-fall-in-love story about two cynics, then Things Like This is for you. Talisman created a wonderful addition to the stacked catalogue of rom-coms, and it is a film where you can feel how much care went into creating it.

What is also incredibly important is queer rom-coms being treated like straight rom-coms have been treated for decades. Things Like This isn’t loud, or flashy, it just is. The characters are queer because it’s who they are, just like the couples in other rom-coms are straight. People are people, it reminds us, and everybody has flaws.

Having films like this get normalized is such an important step for the queer youth. There have been so many groundbreaking queer representations in the recent years, such as the canceled-too-soon Our Flag Means Death. This is the kind of media that starts conversations, guides people in. Talisman shows a lot of promise as a storyteller, and we can only hope he has some more ideas cooking.

Things Like This is in theaters now.

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Max Talisman On Queer Rom-Coms and Fate in ‘Things Like This’ [Interview]