The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

The film follows A.J. Fikry, a reclusive and grieving bookstore owner on Alice Island, whose life takes a dramatic turn after a series of events. Following the theft of his rare copy of Tamerlane, A.J. discovers a 2-year-old girl, Maya, abandoned in his store. He eventually adopts her with the support of friends like Officer Lambiase and Ismay, his sister-in-law.

A.J.'s relationship with Amelia Loman, a sales representative, evolves from initial antagonism to friendship and romance. Their bond deepens after Amelia ends her engagement, leading to marriage. Tragedy strikes when Ismay's husband, Daniel, dies in a car crash. Seven years later, Maya grows into a talented writer, supported by A.J. and Amelia.

A.J. is diagnosed with cancer, prompting revelations about Maya's origins and the theft of Tamerlane. As his health declines, A.J. shares poignant moments with his loved ones before passing away. The story concludes with Maya and Amelia leaving Alice Island, while Lambiase and Ismay decide to preserve the bookstore in A.J.'s memory.

• Kunal Nayyar as A.J. Fikry
• Lucy Hale as Amelia “Amy” Loman
• Christina Hendricks as Ismay Evans
• David Arquette as Officer Nick Lambiase
• Scott Foley as Daniel Parrish

In June 2021, it was announced that Nayyar, Hendricks and Hale were cast in the film.{{cite magazine|last=Roxborough|first=Scott|title=Cannes: Kunal Nayyar, Christina Hendricks, and Lucy Hale Join ‘The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry’|date=June 16, 2021|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/kunal-nayyar-christina-hendricks-lucy-hale-film-1234968797/|accessdate=October 12, 2024}} In December 2021, it was announced that Arquette and Foley were cast in the film.{{cite magazine|last=Barraclough|first=Leo|title=David Arquette, Scott Foley Join ‘The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry’|date=December 13, 2021|magazine=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/david-arquette-scott-foley-the-storied-life-of-a-j-fikry-1235131986/|accessdate=October 12, 2024}}

Filming took place on Cape Cod from November to December 2021.{{cite news|author=Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll|title='Can't imagine a better setting': 'A.J. Fikry' movie wraps up filming on Cape Cod|date=December 15, 2021|newspaper=Cape Cod Times|url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2021/12/15/a-j-fikry-movie-filmed-cape-cod-kunal-nayyar-lucy-hale-christina-hendricks-scott-foley/6484586001/|accessdate=October 12, 2024}}{{cite news|author=Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll|title='A.J. Fikry' movie to open with Cape Cod as backdrop for Kunal Nayyar-Lucy Hale romance|date=October 5, 2022|newspaper=Cape Cod Times|url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2022/10/05/cape-cod-movie-fikry-kunal-nayyar-big-bang-lucy-hale-gabrielle-zevin-david-arquette-hendricks-foley/8166165001/|accessdate=October 12, 2024}}

In May 2022, it was announced that the North American distribution rights to the film were acquired by Vertical Entertainment.{{cite web|last=Grobar|first=Matt|title=Vertical Entertainment Acquires ‘The Storied Life Of A.J. Fikry’ Film Starring Kunal Nayyar, Lucy Hale, Christina Hendricks & More|date=May 16, 2022|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/kunal-nayyar-film-the-storied-life-of-aj-fikry-acquired-by-vertical-entertainment-1235025120/|accessdate=October 12, 2024}} The film was released on October 7, 2022.{{cite web|last=Lapreziosa|first=Madeline|title=Kunal Nayyar & Lucy Hale Interview: The Storied Life Of A.J. Fikry|date=October 6, 2022|website=Screen Rant|url=https://screenrant.com/the-storied-life-of-aj-fikry-interview-kunal-nayyar-lucy-hale/|accessdate=October 12, 2024}}{{cite web|last=Mendelsohn|first=Jon|title='The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry' Trailer: Kunal Nayyar and Lucy Hale Star in Romantic Drama|date=September 8, 2022|website=Collider|url=https://collider.com/the-storied-life-of-aj-fikry-trailer-lucy-hale-kunal-nayyar/|accessdate=October 12, 2024}}

The film has a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 18 reviews.{{cite web|title=The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry|website=Rotten Tomatoes|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_storied_life_of_aj_fikry|accessdate=October 12, 2024}} Sumner Forbes of Film Threat rated the film a 7 out of 10.{{cite web|last=Forbes|first=Sumner|title=The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry|date=October 19, 2022|website=Film Threat|url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/the-storied-life-of-a-j-fikry/|accessdate=October 12, 2024}} Monique Jones of Common Sense Media awarded the film three stars out of five.{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Monique|title=Parents' Guide to The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry|website=Common Sense Media|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-storied-life-of-aj-fikry|accessdate=October 12, 2024}} Chris Knight of the National Post awarded the film two stars out of five.{{cite news|last=Knight|first=Chris|title=Film review: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry|date=October 7, 2022|newspaper=National Post|url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/film-review-the-storied-life-of-a-j-fikry|accessdate=October 12, 2024}} Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post awarded the film two stars out of four.{{cite news|last=O'Sullivan|first=Michael|title='The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry': Too much story, not enough life|date=October 4, 2022|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/movies/2022/10/04/the-storied-life-of-aj-fikry-movie-review/|accessdate=October 12, 2024|url-access=subscription}}

Jericho Tadeo of MovieWeb gave the film a negative review and wrote, "Between the Hallmark-y score and certain narrative beats that, in literary form, may read as engrossing, but, on-screen, err towards the overly sugary, Fikry can't seem to find its place between the grounded and the grandiose."{{cite web|last=Tadeo|first=Jericho|title=The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry Review: The Book is Better Than the Movie|date=October 7, 2022|website=MovieWeb|url=https://movieweb.com/the-storied-life-of-aj-fikry-review/|accessdate=October 12, 2024}}

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• {{IMDb title|10643926}}
• {{rotten-tomatoes|the_storied_life_of_aj_fikry}}

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Category:Vertical Entertainment films

Category:Films shot in Massachusetts

Category:Films based on American novels