‘My Oxford Year’ Review: Netflix’s New Romance Looks Pretty, Says Little

Netflix’s latest romantic drama My Oxford Year tries hard to tug at your heartstrings, but mostly just skims the surface. Riding on the recent trend of romanticizing all things British, the film offers scenic views, posh accents, and predictable plotlines — but not much more.

Call it the Bridgerton effect or a continuation of Netflix’s love affair with England, but this movie leans heavily into the dream of the UK as a whimsical escape. Directed by The Inbetweeners co-creator Iain Morris, My Oxford Year is based on Julia Whelan’s novel and follows Anna (played by Netflix regular Sofia Carson), a literature-loving New Yorker who pauses her high-powered finance career to spend a year studying at Oxford.

At first glance, the story feels like it could be Emily in Paris goes to England. Anna walks into Oxford with stars in her eyes, enchanted by the college’s historic beauty and old-school charm. And while the film occasionally shows the less romantic side of UK life — including a hilarious nod to the British dating show Naked Attraction — it never dives deep.

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Enter Jamie, played by Bridgerton breakout Corey Mylchreest. Their first meeting? A romcom cliché: his car splashes her with a puddle, then she bumps into him again at a fish-and-chips shop. Soon enough, she realizes he’s also her Oxford professor. Cue the romance, which is surprisingly tame and lacks the tension or spark you’d expect from such a pairing.

Jamie starts off as the classic privileged bad boy, while Anna is the no-nonsense, working-class heroine meant to keep him in check. But any fiery potential fizzles quickly. Their chemistry is passable, not powerful. Things drift along nicely until the movie suddenly shifts into a heavier tone, revealing Jamie’s big secret — which we won’t spoil, but trust us, you’ll see it coming from miles away.

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This emotional pivot is meant to add depth but ends up feeling forced. The film teases meaningful themes like class differences, the art-vs-commerce dilemma, and long-distance identity crises. But instead of exploring these ideas, it rushes through them in favor of an overly familiar romantic formula.

Director Iain Morris handles the film well enough, but the writing — by Allison Burnett and Melissa Osborne — doesn’t give the actors much to work with. Carson, while better here than in her last Netflix drama The Life List, lacks the screen presence to carry the movie. Mylchreest has more charm, with hints of a young Hugh Grant, but the flat script keeps him boxed in.

Still, My Oxford Year might serve its purpose for Netflix: an easy, background-watch kind of movie that people half-watch while scrolling through their phones. It’s pleasant, predictable, and ultimately forgettable.

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For a genre that has so much emotional ground to cover, this film settles for the safe route. My Oxford Year isn’t awful — it’s just average, and in a sea of streaming content, that’s barely enough to stand out.

Verdict:
If you’re looking for a light romance with pretty scenery and a British backdrop, this might hold your attention for an hour or two. Just don’t expect it to leave a lasting impression.

Now streaming on Netflix.