Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sexual situations, language, drinking in flat romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
That's Amor
What's the Story?
Sofia (Riley Dandy) has just lost her San Francisco job and her cheating boyfriend Richard (Bryan Craig) all on the eve of her 30th birthday, when THAT'S AMOR begins. She moves back home to Sonoma with her mom, Lainie (Nancy Lenehan), to try to piece her life back together. Lainie convinces her to take a cooking class at a local Spanish restaurant. There, she meets Matias (Isaac Gonzalez Rossi), an aspiring chef from Barcelona. The two begin flirting and start to like each other, only Matias is scheduled to fly back to Spain soon. Meanwhile, Richard wants Sofia back.
Is It Any Good?
This film rings false on multiple levels, and the romance at its heart isn't given enough time to develop into a believable relationship worth rooting for. That's Amor feels outdated and contrived, particularly in Sofia's seeming insularity, which allows for her to be wowed by the most basic insights into a foreign country and culture but feels bogus in today's globalized world. The use of Latino actors to play Spaniards further undermines the authenticity of the story.
It's difficult for the viewer to believe Sofia was ever in love with a doofus like Richard or that she and Matias are so deeply in love after just a couple of conversations and one night together. Other aspects of the script and direction, including scenes with Sofia's best friend or in her workplace and on a city bus, feel tacked on to the main story but add nothing. The actors do what they can within these confines, with Lenehan standing out as the main character's encouraging and cheerful mother.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why her 30th birthday feels like a turning point for Sofia in That's Amor. What does 30 mean to a young adult? How does her life situation compare, for example, with her best friend's?
Matias is from Barcelona. What aspects of Spanish culture and cuisine does the film highlight? Where could you find more information?
Do you agree with the decisions Sofia makes? How would you describe her attitude change over the course of the movie?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 25, 2022
- Cast : Riley Dandy , Isaac Gonzalez Rossi , Nancy Lenehan
- Director : Shaun Paul Piccinino
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Cooking
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some sexual material and brief strong language
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate