Can contemporary romance be this flat?

Falling in Love will serve as a definitive example of good performances in a bad movie.

De Niro and Streep are known for their acting intensity: an accent here, a few pounds gained there, a dash of Method madness everywhere. That’s why it’s a kick to watch them play what to them must be the most fantastical creatures ever: ordinary people.

...an often excessively deliberate drama that’s only able to capture the viewer’s interest in short-lived fits and starts...