There’s no question that today’s advanced technology has made our lives easier to live than ever before. But for all the convenience and certainty it’s brought us, have things also been altered for the worse? Does having the ability to find a life partner based on the results of a dating app fundamentally disrupt one of the most powerful human emotions we can feel: that of love? The new playfully satiric, sci-fi inspired romantic dramedy Fingernails would say, yes.

Fingernails takes place in the near future where couples have the ability to test their love clinically and see if they and their partner are an actual match. As the leading institute’s founder (Luke Wilson) states: “I founded this institute to take the risk out of love. No more uncertainty, no more wondering if you’ve chosen the right partner.” Willing subjects who roll the dice agree to weeks of trials that lead to the final part of the testing process: having your fingernail tested (which is, as the movie states, the first place love can be detected).

Seeing partners find their true love inspires the young and impressionable Anna (Jessie Buckley), so much so that she begins a new job at the institute. Already lucky enough to have successfully matched with her partner (Jeremy Allen White)–which is seen as more of a relief to him than anything else–Anna is quick to learn the job. Enthused with the process, she also enjoys learning from her colleague Amir (Riz Ahmed), an equally kindhearted, compassionate person she is paired with. Together, they conduct weeks’ worth of trials for apprehensive couples–including administering blindfolded smell tests of the couple’s various partners’ scents, and having subjects sing French versions of romantic karaoke songs (to elicit the strongest feelings of love), so too do Anna and Amir grow closer. As a result, Anna is forced to question the validity of the very test that proved she was in love with her current partner: could her current emotions show that her heart now lies elsewhere?

Fingernails is a very warmhearted, tenderly crafted romantic movie that will really make you evaluate your emotions and place in life. It’s not all sappy, though. Director Christos Nikous, who co-wrote the script with Sam Steiner and Stavros Raptis, playfully mixes in a funnily offbeat world of sci-fi silliness that evokes the vibes of Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, or even Spike Jonze’s, Her. It has an amusing strangeness to it, but not as strange as his feature film debut, Apples (which fits squarely in the “Greek weird wave” category, that’s most commonly attributed to the films of Yorgos Lanthimos, such as The Lobster, and the upcoming Poor Things). Nikous brings a deadpan coldness to the film, which makes the jokes land even better. Seeing couples watch a marathon of Hugh Grant’s romantic comedies in order to grow their love emotions is quite funny. But ultimately, it feels like such a warm world to experience (credit to cinematographer Marcell Rév, who brings a lush film quality to the look).

In the lead role, Jessie Buckley proves what makes her character so compelling. With her natural warmth and exuberant spirit, she brings a radiance that makes it impossible not to fall for (seeing her sing Yazoo’s “Only You” is melt-worthy). Not to be outdone is Riz Ahmed, who also brings an earnest sincerity that makes their bond feel like a sort of “Jim and Pam” couple you hope to end up together. It says a lot when you suddenly find yourself rooting for Jessie Buckley to intentionally not end up with Jeremy Allen White, who continues to lean into his more jerkish qualities.

Distributed by Apple TV+, Fingernails will be enjoyed most by audiences that are looking for a heartfelt romantic comedy with a bit of sci-fi absurdity. Even if the film is ultimately a little more conventional than it could have been, with a semi-predictable ending, it is a sweet story that will have you investigating your very real feelings. And that’s something you likely won’t get with a dating app.

‘Fingernails’ is in theaters and available to stream on Apple TV+ starting this Friday.