‘Press Play’ Review: Turning Back the Clock Through Music Doesn’t Bring Back That Lovin’ Feelin’

variety.com:

Courtney Howard Songs can be like time capsules, messages from the past that conjure powerful images and emotions, transporting us back to milestones in our lives with a signature sound.

For the heroine at the heart of “Press Play,” the curated collection of songs on a very special mixtape are a literal transportive device, a time warp that rewinds back to when the love of her life was alive and well.

Like the songs that fill its soundtrack, Greg Björkman’s directorial debut has a catchy hook and atmospheric pull — yet the material leaves far too much underdeveloped, unrealized and incohesive to connect with viewers’ heads and hearts.Laura (Clara Rugaard) spends her days on the beaches of Oahu, capturing the spirit of the island with her paintbrush in the hope of turning her artistic talent into a viable career.

She’s so focused on this goal that it takes a whiny push by her bestie Chloe (Lyrica Okano) to set her up on a date, making her realize she’s failed to pursue a life outside the borders of her canvases.