In 7 Days, Geraldine Viswanathan (Blockers) and Karan Soni (Deadpool) star as Rita and Ravi, two young Indian adults set up on a date through an arranged marriage dating website. He’s interested in finding a wife, while she’s a bit more hesitant, given his general awkwardness. It’s a barely ideal introduction; both have to wear masks, this being the early days of Covid-19. Then, just when the date reaches its awkward peak, they learn the entire world has gone into lockdown, rendering Ravi’s travel plans home useless. Welcome to a very awkward quarantine rooming agreement, albeit one that makes for one of the better pandemic-centric movies to date.

For the most part, Hollywood’s recent attempts to turn the coronavirus pandemic into its own subgenre have either leaned toward dystopian horror or romance. Both address fears of isolation and the total disruption of human connectivity, but 7 Days simplifies this by reducing the drama to a two-person show. Covid-19, while the film’s primary catalyst, starts out as merely a backdrop to trap its characters into an awkward situation. The real drama, and comedy, lies in the shenanigans and revelations Ravi and Rita experience as reluctant roommates, who are forced to seek comfort together despite their contrasting personalities.

For Ravi, in particular, his acceptance of a traditional Indian marriage mindset leads to a bit of whiplash after seeing how little Rita resembles her online profile. She doesn’t cook, isn’t a vegetarian, and has both a vibrator and a secret lover. As Rita later points out, her independence is dependent on agreeing to keep up these dates so that her mother will pay her rent. Brief cameos from their families reinforce this contrast, from Ravi’s brothers teasing him for his sexual rigidness to Rita’s mother pressing her to keep up a good appearance in fear she’ll scare off potential suitors.

Being together, as expected in romantic movies, allows the two to become more intimate about their desires through humorous or cringe-inducing activities. A drunk confessional stand-up night here, a discovery of one’s secret art collection there—little moments that, boosted by Viswanathan and Soni’s chemistry, create a natural comedic flow. Jeremy Mackie’s camerawork adds to this atmosphere by intimately emphasizing one character’s proximity to the another, which also works for both dramatic and comedic effect. There’s just something humorous about Ravi trying to go on a virtual date while Rita provides moral support from the other side of the room, a choice that hints at their growing bond.

What’s also unique about 7 Days is that it’s not a condemnation of the arranged marriage lifestyle that one might expect. Attached to the film’s opening and conclusion, director Roshan Sethi includes several conversations of Indian couples who talk about how their own familial unions came about. Being paired up that way didn’t stop them from finding love, nor did it diminish their willingness to keep these relationships strong for their happiness and that of their families.

Things take a drastic tonal shift around the midway point, which, without saying too much, drops much of its humor for a state of ongoing tension where you aren’t quite certain how events will play out. It’s an effective twist that reiterates the pandemic’s presence beyond window dressing, but it also makes the balance of character development between its co-leads feel somewhat lopsided. None of this necessarily hurts Sethi’s climax, but compared to what came before, it can’t help but feel noticeable.

Because 7 Days offers this unique take on the rom-com formula, it manages to stand apart from other Covid-19 films made so far. With solid performances and an effective use of location shooting, it feels like a more believable story at heart without ever swerving into complete absurdity. For moviegoers looking to see how cinema will capture the pandemic for years to come, that’s probably enough.