The Maintenance Required by Prime Video has already gained popularity among the rom-com fans, and it is not hard to guess why.
Providing a combination of charisma, humor, and heart, the movie seems so real to the point that lots of the viewers cannot help thinking: Is it a true story?
Let’s dive in and find out what inspired this heartwarming enemies-to-lovers tale.
Is Maintenance Required Inspired by Real Events?
The simple answer is no, Maintenance Required is not a true story. It is an original work of fiction that was written and directed by writer-director Lacey Uhlemeyer with co-writers Erin Falconer and Roo Berry.
While the story doesn’t come from real-life people or events, it captures emotions that feel very real, love, rivalry, and the struggle to follow your passion while staying true to yourself. That’s what makes the movie so relatable.
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Why Does the Movie Feel So Real and Relatable?
Even though the story is fictional, Maintenance Required borrows from the classic DNA of beloved romantic comedies. Not just that, the surprising chemistry between the characters, secrets, and the rising tension will give you deja vu as if you have already watched this somewhere. A hint of movies like You Got Mail, The Hating Game, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days can be felt in this movie.
They begin their love affair by anonymously chatting online, followed by a competition between a small-town mechanic and an executive at a corporation, a plot of familiar novel elements. These timeless tropes give the movie its “real-world” charm, making the audience feel like they’ve seen a love story like this somewhere before, but never quite told this way.
How Is Charlie Different From Typical Rom-Com Heroines?
One of the reasons Maintenance Required stands out is that Charlie isn’t your typical romantic comedy lead. Usually, in rom-coms, it’s the man who’s cynical about love, and the woman who helps him open up. But here, the roles are flipped.
As Madelaine Petsch told Glamour, what drew her to the role was how different Charlie felt. “Usually in heterosexual rom-coms, the man is the one who doesn’t believe in love, and the woman softens him, but here, it’s the opposite.”
Charlie is strong, independent, and a little guarded when it comes to love. Watching her slowly open her heart to Beau gives the story emotional depth and makes her journey feel refreshingly real.
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Final Thoughts
Maintenance Required may not be based on real events, but it captures something true about love and life, that sometimes, people come into your world at exactly the wrong time to end up being just right for you.
