An American Lives Out Her British Dream in a Mild but Well-Made Netflix Romance from The Inbetweeners’ Creator
Thanks to shows like Bridgerton—which probably owes a bit to The Crown—Netflix seems especially focused on the UK right now. Just last month, Lena Dunham shared her own London experiences in Too Much, and with yet another Pride and Prejudice adaptation underway, it’s clear British stories are in vogue. Enter My Oxford Year, a romantic drama where England itself feels like the main love interest.
You might expect a university-set film directed by The Inbetweeners creator Iain Morris to be a raunchy, edgy comedy aimed at young men. But My Oxford Year, based on Julia Whelan’s novel, chooses a softer, more sentimental path. It’s a light, somewhat forgettable fantasy about an American woman trying to find herself abroad—think Emily in Paris, but set in Oxford.
The story follows Anna (Netflix’s Sofia Carson), a working-class New Yorker who puts her Goldman Sachs career on hold for a year to study literature at Oxford. The movie captures the undeniable beauty of the historic city—something that really helps, since it shoots on location, making the setting feel authentic. And in one of the film’s few genuinely funny moments, Anna’s new friends introduce her to a perfectly British night in: watching Naked Attraction.
As expected, Anna quickly falls for a charming British guy, Jamie (Corey Mylchreest from Bridgerton). Their meet-cute is as over-the-top as it sounds—a puddle splash from his fancy car, a run-in at a chip shop, and the surprise reveal that he’s her replacement tutor. Their romance, unfortunately, plays out in shades of beige. Jamie is a privileged, somewhat arrogant “fuckboy,” while Anna is the hardworking, no-nonsense type who keeps him in check. There’s a hint of conflict, but not enough to make their relationship truly interesting. Things seem calm until the story suddenly pivots from romantic comedy to drama.
This shift, however, isn’t as compelling as it aims to be. Anna learns Jamie’s reasons for holding back, but the reveal feels like a tired cliché—and the emotional beats that follow are utterly predictable. The film touches on some potentially deeper themes—class differences, balancing passion and practicality, living between two worlds—but never digs in deeply enough to make them resonate.
Iain Morris directs competently, but the script from Allison Burnett and Melissa Osborne lacks spark, relying heavily on the leads to carry the film. Sofia Carson is better suited here than in her previous Netflix role (The Life List), but she doesn’t quite have the charisma to anchor every scene. Corey Mylchreest offers a charming Hugh Grant-esque vibe and hints at what could be, if only the writing were sharper and wittier.
If you’re looking for a Netflix movie to watch while multitasking—something that won’t demand too much attention—My Oxford Year fits the bill. It’s better than some recent romantic dramas, but it doesn’t reach the emotional depth or excitement that the genre is capable of. There are big feelings to explore here, but this film plays it safe, ending up as a late-summer distraction rather than a memorable story.
My Oxford Year is now streaming on Netflix.
