The Other Zoey

The Other Zoey is a 2023 American romantic comedy film directed by Sara Zandieh and written by Matt Tabak. The film stars Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey, Archie Renaux, Mallori Johnson, Patrick Fabian, Heather Graham and Andie MacDowell.

Zoey Miller's love life is turned upside-down when Zach MacLaren, the school's soccer star, gets amnesia and mistakes her for his girlfriend, who is coincidentally named Zoey as well.

It was released in limited theaters on October 20, 2023 and on Amazon Prime Video both in streaming media format and as video on demand.

Plot
Zoey Miller, a highly intelligent computer major junior, at Queens University of Charlotte does not believe in the traditional concept of romantic love, but rather that having similar ways of thinking is the key. On Valentine's Day she speaks up against fellow student Becca's presentation on Saint Valentine in a history class, saying that the holiday is a capitalist creation. She has designed an app that will effectively match people based on algorithms.

As Zoey is crossing campus with her roommate and friend Elle, the school's soccer star Zach MacLaren accidentally kicks a ball into her head. He rushes over to apologise. Elle finds it romantic, but Zoey shrugs it off. In a subsequent class, another student has an almost identical view to Zoey when love is discussed, but disappears before she can tell him so.

Zach comes into the campus bookstore where Zoey works. He forgets his credit card after ordering a book. Zoey runs after him as he speeds off on his bike, and he crashes into a reversing car. Zoey is the first person he sees when he comes to, and as he hears her name, he mistakes her for his girlfriend, who is coincidentally also named Zoey.

Zoey accompanies Zach to the hospital, where she bumps into his parents. They also confuse her for his girlfriend, but as he has amnesia no one realizes the error. The doctor tells Zoey to avoid upsetting Zach until he recovers, so his parents have her to dinner. She meets Zach's younger sister Avery and his cousin Miles, who is the student she had seen with similar views to her from the lecture. She continues to discover things she has in common with him. They invite her along for a family ski weekend, so she cancels her flight to see Paula to join them.

As Zach has to stay in the rented house to rest, Zoey goes to the slopes where Miles teaches her to snowboard. They are mutually attracted so, that night in the hot tub as they are alone briefly, they kiss. In the morning when Zach mentions Miles' girlfriend, she confronts him, but he explains they have a polyamorous relationship.

Disappointed, Zoey chooses to spend the day keeping Zach company. They play games and cook food. By the end of the day, Zoey feels a bond with him, saying that she hopes he remembers how nice this day was once his amnesia is gone.

Riding back to the MacLarens', the soccer-playing Zoey arrives, accusing Zoey of identity theft. She is able to explain the circumstances, and apologizes for deceiving them. As Zoey leaves, Avery blurts out that she prefers her to soccer Zoey.

Back in class, outlandish rumors circulate about Zoey, and she falls out with Elle, upset that she had convinced her to lie, though they later make up. Then Becca proposes to help them promote the upcoming Jam Fest to recover her image. They ask her to create a web page for the event.

Successfully getting the website up and running after an all-night effort, Zoey plans on watching from home. However, Elle drags her to the Jam Fest before it finishes, as Zach is there and is likely available. She stops the music to find him. Once she does, Zoey confesses her feelings, Zach admits he broke up with soccer Zoey because of his feelings and they kiss.

Production
In December 2021, it was announced that Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey and Archie Renaux were cast in the film. Later that month, it was announced that Andie MacDowell, Heather Graham and Patrick Fabian joined the cast and that production began in North Carolina. In January 2022, it was reported that Mallori Johnson, Maggie Thurmon, Jorge López, Gabriella Saraivah and Amalia Yoo joined the cast of the film.

Release
The Other Zoey was released in limited theaters by Brainstorm Media on October 20, 2023, followed by a video on demand release.

Reception
Dennis Harvey of Variety called it "a pleasant enough diversion for those who want familiar genre beats sounded by the usual attractive actors in the customary attractive settings."