What happens when a destination isn’t a place, but a person? People We Meet on Vacation poses this question to very charming results. As an adaptation of the book of the same title, penned by New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry, it has generated considerable anticipation among romance readers and fans of the novelist. Luckily, it delivers in more ways than one.
Directed by Brett Haley from a screenplay by Yulin Kuang, Amos Vernon & Nunzio Randazzo, this romantic comedy film has all the makings of a modern-day classic. It stars Emily Bader, Tom Blyth, Lukas Gage, Jameela Jamil, Alan Ruck, and Molly Shannon. Bader and Blyth work wonders as they bring these characters to life and Jetset them away. This is no surprise considering their past work. Emily Bader previously took on a historical fantasy romance series on Amazon Prime Video’s My Lady Jane. Tom Blyth starred in a three-part audio romance series with the audio erotica app Quinn titled The Muse. Luckily, all of this translated well here.
Poppy and Alex are opposites. It’s grumpy and sunshine. It’s Type A and Type B. Poppy (Emily Bader) loves to travel, while Alex’s(Tom Blyth) favorite part of vacation is when he gets to go home. How are they best friends? After a fateful carpool drive from college in Boston to Linfield, Ohio, where they both coincidentally come from, they give way to the start of a beautiful friendship. From that moment on, spanning a decade, they set off to take one week of summer vacation together every year, no matter what. Until one summer, their bond turned from unbreakable to nonexistent.
Their chemistry may have you pausing the film many times just because you’re too giddy to handle it. It may even be impossible to be normal about a project that infuses such joy onto the screen. It’s reminiscent of the Nora Ephron and Rob Reiner romantic staple, 1989’s When Harry Met Sally, mixed with the quirkiness of a twenty-first century aesthetic and the budget of a Netflix and Sony deal. So think 2023’s Love at First Sight meets 2018’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
As for the vacation aspect of the story, the travel destinations are characters in their own right. The crew dressed each location wonderfully, like something from a dream. Rich colors and textures transport you as you watch it all unfold. The ever-present charm of Poppy’s optimism and yearning for wander creates opportunities and scenarios that give the film a dreamlike quality.
While it’s not a blatantly steamy romantic journey–except for the wonderfully handled climactic moment brilliantly brought to life–their dynamic thrives through unspoken yearning and pining. It’s difficult to pin down or point out, however. They haven’t accepted the reality of their want for each other until it’s too late. Instead, it exists through the intimacy of shared moments and mutual understanding. People We Meet on Vacation reminds its viewers that it’s not always about boisterous expressions of passion. Sometimes it’s falling for your best friend that makes you realize the fireworks are from the desire to be cared for, to be loved, to be known, and to be changed. It’s in the acceptance of one another for who you are and how that can be the best gift of all.
For admirers of the source material, the many changes turn this project into something almost brand new. It’s able to stand on its own. The narrative is a more condensed and streamlined tale with storylines cut and combined. While this may cause apprehension, it’s important to note that, most times, the book will always exist and be ready to welcome you back. However, the heart and soul of Poppy and Alex’s story remains intact. While the script doesn’t fully allow for scenes and segments to breathe, it all made way to a heartfelt ride that serves as a reminder of why the genre continues to persist even when some refer to it as deceased. It’s an antidote to cynicism. Which is why People We Meet on Vacation might just become your new favorite comfort film.
People We Meet on Vacation will be available to stream only on Netflix starting January 9th.
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