A charming, character driven rom-com, Ode to Joy anchors its story on a unique premise where falling head over heels in love is an affliction.

Imagine being so happy, that the feeling sends you into a coma. That is the situation faced by Charlie (Martin Freeman), a late 30-something librarian who suffers from cataplexy, which essentially means overwhelming emotions of love, desire of joy results in "lights out". A plodding existence does Charlie live, with every assurance taken that he lives his life on his feet, rather than sprawled unconscious on his back. His is a life of gloom, lived with calculated precision. 

Playing the role is Martin Freeman, who suits the part perfectly. The British star of The Hobbit trilogy has perfected the art of straight-faced joker, hitting those one-liners with pinpoint precision. Yet with Charlie there is also a sadness that underlines his hard exterior. He is a man who wants the "normal life" but cannot dare risk walking down that road for fear of lying amongst the cracks.

In a cruel twist of fate arrives Francesca. She could be his soulmate, but Charlie cannot dare to find out. Of course he is attracted to her, and with good reason. As portrayed by Morena Baccarin, Francesca is filled with vibrancy and sensuality, and a big heart as personified in the relationship with her dying aunt (Jane Curtin). She is the sunflower in Charlie's gloomy day. Whenever Freeman and Baccarin appear together on screen, the chemistry is undeniable.

Charlie's reluctance to pursue this relationship develops into a "will they?/won't they?" love story. The film segues into different plotlines. Francesca enters a relationship with Charlie's affliction-less brother Cooper (Jake Lacy), while Charlie finds a girlfriend more his speed in Bethany. She is portrayed by Melissa Rauch in a hilarious turn as a woman of hushed, carefully placed speech and a quirky sense of, well, everything. A scene where Rauch plays The Cranberries song "Zombie" on a cello is a leading contender for awkward funny scene of the year.

Director Jason Winer (Strange Calls), with thanks to a fine script from Max Werner (Fun Size),  has pulled of something of a minor miracle: a unique and interesting rom-com. Takes of love and loss are often played out in far-fetched scenarios, yet Ode to Joy makes it story of a man stricken with a large heart, yet a weak capacity to use it, is a scenario beautifully filmed and portrayed.