Review: Still waters don’t always run deep in dreamy romantic drama ‘How He Fell in Love’

“How He Fell in Love” is a far more pensive, less sentimental romantic drama than its moony title might imply.

To that end, writer-director Marc Meyers takes an effectively naturalistic, quasi-European approach to telling this Gotham-set tale of a misjudged affair, allowing scenes to breathe when they could have just glibly hurtled past. The downside: The story, although intelligent, is not quite unique or essential enough to merit the film’s protracted running time.

“He” is Travis (Matt McGorry), a floundering musician who meets decade-older, married yoga teacher Ellen (Amy Hargreaves, recently cast in the upcoming Netflix series “13 Reasons Why”) at the bucolic wedding of his ex-girlfriend. Back in the city, Travis reunites with Ellen when he drops into her studio for some downward dog. A tentative romance blooms, hotel room-assignations ensue.

Title aside, the story is as much about Ellen as Travis, especially once her much older real estate mogul husband, Henry (Mark Blum), starts affecting the Travis-Ellen dynamic. That’s when things truly get interesting; Blum and Hargreaves are excellent together in several highly resonant, soul-baring scenes.

As for the appealing McGorry (“Orange Is the New Black”), he might have made a stronger impression here if he were portraying a deeper, more soulful character. But as written, his Travis feels too callow and reactive, his proclamations of love for Ellen too “in the moment,” for us to fully invest in his amorous journey.

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“How He Fell in Love”

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour, 48 minutes

Playing: Laemmle Ahrya Fine Arts, Beverly Hills