Review: 'All My Life' is a real-life romance that gets its sparks from stars Jessica Rothe and Harry Shum Jr.

Sometimes all a movie needs for a sweet romance is what “All My Life” delivers: A couple of actors with good chemistry, a few moments that show genuine affection for the characters and the audience’s appreciation of love.

The story here is as earnest and straightforward as a romance gets. Jennifer Carter (Jessica Rothe, from the “Happy Death Day” movies) is having a drink with her girl friends in a sports bar, when a couple of guys walk up trying to chat them up. They’re failing miserably, but Jennifer notices the embarrassment of the guys’ third wheel, Solomon Chau (Harry Shum Jr., formerly of “Glee”), and engages him in conversation. Sparks don’t fly just yet, but there’s something there.

A Saturday afternoon jogging date reveals an easygoing rapport, and when they arrive at the local farmer’s market, we can feel them click. In one moment, Jenn looks up and notices Sol isn’t there. As she later describes, “I missed you, and I barely knew you.” Within minutes, they share their first kiss.

Jenn is a psychology grad student. Sol has a job at a tech firm, but hates it; his real passion is cooking, but he’s afraid to risk a steady paycheck to follow his dream. Sol can save expenses, Jenn tells him, by moving in with her. Soon they are living their fullest lives, and Sol proposes, Jenn accepts, and they start planning their wedding.

Then the bad news: Sol learns he has a tumor in his liver. Jenn is at his bedside after his first surgery, and tending to him at home through his recuperation. Through chemo and other treatments, Sol starts to question whether they can still go through with a wedding — afraid that everyone will see her as “a widow in white.” Jenn argues back: “You don’t get to decide when it’s time for me to tap out.”

Their friends come up with another idea: Speed up the plans, raise $20,000 through crowd-funding, and give Sol and Jenn their dream wedding in weeks rather than months.

By this point, it’s probably not surprising to hear that “All My Life” is based on a true story. The press notes call this “the powerful true love story that inspired an entire nation” — and If you haven’t heard of it, that’s because the nation is Canada. (The movie was filmed in Louisiana, but the script never specifies where the movie takes place.)

Director Mark Meyers (“My Friend Dahmer”) and first-time screenwriter Todd Rosenberg find much beauty in the everyday moments of Sol and Jenn’s romance. There are the loving glances, the boisterous gatherings, the moments of blissful quiet and loving laughter. They also don’t shy away from the moments of tragedy that have made people cry at movies from “Dark Victory” and “Love Story” to the present.

The movie also boasts an offbeat supporting cast, including Ever Carradine, singer Keala Settle (“The Greatest Showman”) and comic Jay Pharoah. But to whatever degree “All My Life” works as a romance is the chemistry between Rothe and Shum. She’s sunny and engaging, he’s cool and collected, and together they deliver in both the light and heavy passages.

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‘All My Life’

★★★

Opens Friday, December 4, in theaters where open. Rated PG-13 for brief language. Running time: 93 minutes.