Watching Culpa mía: Londres, I had my expectations set to the limit, because I completely despised the original Spanish version, Culpa mía. Now, don’t get me wrong, I definitely think we need angsty, teen, sexual Wattpad adaptations, but in my opinion, they need to have some substance to them to be truly worthwhile. Culpa mía was one of the most watched movies on Prime Video, based on the novel of the same name. The movie was the first in a trilogy (of which we already have a second part) and it delivers on the promise of a sensual movie that is solely concerned with the sexual tension between the two main characters, stepbrothers Noah and Nick.
But what do I know? Because this movie was so successful, they decided to adapt it into another language. Personally, I’m getting tired of talking about this because I’ve been doing it so often lately, but is this also a second-screen thing? Oh yeah, we already know the conflict and what’s going to happen, so let’s just do it in another language with a few minor changes and that’s it.
Directors: Charlotte Fassler, Dani Girdwood
Writer: Melissa Osborne
Stars: Jason Flemyng, George Robinson, Asha Banks
It really makes me feel, as an audience member, a little bit useless, for lack of a better word. Admittedly, Mi culpa: Londres is a little (or maybe quite a lot) unnecessary. Aside from a few minor changes from the Spanish film, to fit the cultural climate of an English-speaking audience, the film sticks to the script to the letter. So why do I think it’s actually better? And what things would I wish the Spanish film had replicated?
Mi culpa: Londres, for the uninitiated, follows Noah, a girl who has just moved from Florida to London because her mother found a rich British man she is hopelessly in love with. Noah has to live with her stepbrother Nick, a super sexy and bold man who happens to be the same age as her. The rest of the story involves car racing, clandestine fights, and past traumas – a conventional teen drama.
What makes the English adaptation different from the Spanish original, though, is that it focuses more on character development, rather than having them ogle each other every time they look at each other. The chemistry builds slowly; it moves from friendship to romance, and somehow it feels more like it's made to last, so to speak. The story isn't complicated, but if you've seen the original and enjoyed it, you might be disappointed by the relative lack of sex and increased emotional attachments in the London version. But, if you're new to the franchise, pick the movie based on what you prefer: a slow (or just sexy) movie. They both definitely have their thing.
The best part about both movies is the cast and how each brings something of their own to these traumatized teenagers. Asha Banks is a joy to watch as she molds from nervous and upset to bold and tough. She's also a beauty, so you won't see me complaining. What surprises me the most, though, is Matthew Broome, who plays Nick and is absolutely unrecognizable from his last role. The last time I saw the 25-year-old actor, he played a British aristocrat in a historical drama called The Buccaneers and sported facial hair that definitely made him look older. I'm really amazed by the duality of the two characters and how he manages to combine charm and insolence with such ease. He definitely fits the character he plays and if I hadn't looked up the movie, I would never have known it was the same guy. And yes, to the question you have in mind, they have fantastic chemistry, even if it's not like that from the start.
I think My Fault: London uses its supporting characters more sparingly than the Spanish version. I definitely feel like the friends and the ex-boyfriend had a much bigger role in the originals, although I definitely prefer what they did with the ex's character in this one. It's almost as if friendship along with trauma take center stage in this version of the story. That's why My Fault: London is a good standalone film separate from the franchise. Also, I think this movie takes itself less seriously than Culpa Mia, which makes it a bit more fun. It knows it's embarrassing and a bit over the top, so it has fun with that, rather than presenting it as something super serious.
At the end of the day, both movies have different approaches, which is probably the excuse to make another version of the highly (globally) successful Culpa Mia. The movie has an expensive look to it and there are plenty of cool outfits, cars, and locations that you can swoon over. The lead couple is lovely, so if you want some angst over trauma, then this movie will definitely scratch that itch. We already have a deficit of originality, but hey, at least this is a solid remake that I personally liked a bit.
That being said, it all depends on your preferences and I hope I've made it easier for you to choose which version you want to watch if this is your first time getting into the My Fault franchise. Plus, there's no denying that it's a pretty entertaining story because there's a lot going on, so for that alone I'd give My Fault: London 3 out of 5 stars. An adaptation that stands on its own (and is very hot).
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