Research: Looking at the 'Stuck In Love' opening

CREATION OF ENIGMA:
At first we see a tilt movement down a chalkboard in a school, accompanied by opening credits. This establishes a school location but we are not yet introduced to the protagonist, creating enigma as to who the film will revolve around. Eventually, there is a slow introduction to 3 different characters, accompanied by voice-overs and on-screen text which highlights what they are saying. The fact that three different characters are introduced in the same way allows the audience to establish a connection between them, but we do not yet know what that connection is. They are different characters of different ages, in different locations and situations with different personalities but they are connected somehow.

INTRODUCTION TO CHARACTERS:
The first character we are introduced to is a teenage boy sitting in a classroom, along with the voice-over and on-screen text "I remember it hurt... looking at her hurt" which shows that he is troubled and suffers from unrequited love. Between the editing of him and his female classmate, we can establish that he is in love with her. This gives the impression that he is an outcast, as he is central in the framing, and all focus is on him and the girl he wants but cannot have. This appeals to audiences as many can relate to this situation. The on-screen text gives the impression that he is in some sort of daydream and is shown in a font that represents handwriting, suggesting that he is a writer.
Next, an older, college girl is introduced through her dialogue, but still with on-screen text, this time in a simple, computer font. Through diegetic dialogue (e.g. "I'm always waiting for whatever is next") it is implied that she is intelligent. The location of a bar hangout suggests that she is outgoing.
Finally, a middle-aged man is introduced, spying on his ex-wife, also with on-screen text in an old-fashioned typewriter font, suggesting that he is older. We do not yet know what connects all three characters.

SETTING UP PLOT:
The unrequited love between the teenage boy and the girl he likes is established, and sets up the plot to be a story or developed relationship between the two of them. As for the college girl, she seems sceptical about love and romance, so it can be predicted that another character will come along to change her mind about it. The middle-aged man spying on his ex-wife, triggers a story between the to of them and whether they will reunite or that he will have to come to terms with the fact that he has moved on.

PACE AND RHYTHM:
The non-diegetic music and voice-overs are slow when introducing the characters, accompanied by slow edits and less frequent change in camera shots. This contrasts to when the family join together and the editing speeds up and happier music is played, connoting sense of normality and adding emphasis onto the binary opposites of outcast vs. normality presented.

MOOD AND TONE:
The non-diegetic music as the teenage boy is shown in his class is slow, and gives a more romantic mood to the situation, as opposed to making him appear pathetic, as we are meant to empathise with this character. This contrasts to the more upbeat, everyday music played as the teenage boy and the middle-aged man (now established as father and son) make thanksgiving dinner.