Some friendships come with inside jokes, annual plane tickets… and a little unresolved tension. Netflix’s “People We Meet on Vacation” explores one complicated friendship, ten summers, and a second chance that might change everything. 

This newly released romantic-comedy drama is directed by Brett Haley, who is known for his heartfelt, character-driven dramas and comedies (e.g. “All the Bright Places”). The movie is based on Emily Henry’s bestselling novel, so the director closely collaborated with Henry to bring her story to life.

The film follows best friends Poppy and Alex as they navigate their polar-opposite personalities, annual summer trips, and the complicated feelings that grow between them. They are both from a small town in Ohio called Linfield, but they meet in college at the University of Boston before sharing a ride back home, which sparks the start of their friendship. Poppy is spontaneous and adventurous, but Alex is more reserved and routine-driven. Yet for years, their annual trips prove that opposites don’t just attract, they balance each other. While the movie doesn’t show all trips, they are mentioned between the two friends – until one trip introduces a rift neither of them fully addresses, quietly altering the dynamic that once felt effortless. Years later, they reunite for one more vacation in Barcelona, forced to confront what really holds their friendship together.

Personally, the execution of the movie felt a little rushed and compact. There wasn’t really any climax or build up, which led to there being a predictable plot and ending. I was intrigued at first because the plot and what they were trying to develop seemed like a good idea. I could see where they wanted to go with the love story and the vacation plot. Though, as I got deeper into the movie, I slowly started to lose that grasp of the idea. This led to the movie ending up as the biggest cliche ever.  

It also felt a little messy throughout. The story jumps back and forth, including lots of flashbacks. I would need to make sure I’m following the timeline, so I wouldn’t lose track of where I am in the movie. There would be a scene that is in present time, and then it would suddenly jump to “10 summers ago,” and then back to present. It’s one of those movies where you need to pay attention, because if you take your eyes off it for a minute, you’d be lost (Though if you need something as a background watch, this is for you).

There are a lot of mixed reviews on the movie, some of which would agree with what I have said, but also some that would disagree. On rottentomatoes.com, there are all types of reviews, ranging from people saying that the movie had “good vibes, fun watch… reminiscent of 2000 rom-coms in a good way,” to others disagreeing and saying that this rom-com “just wasn’t it.”

I am a sucker for romance movies, and this movie did get a little cheesy at times, but it lacked on-screen chemistry between the leads. Compared to other movies, it definitely isn’t at the top of the list.

2000’s rom-com movies are one of the top tier movies to watch. Movies like “50 First Dates,” “First Daughter,” and “27 Dresses” are some of my top rom-com movies that live in my memory rent-free, especially “50 First Dates.” It gives off the same idea as “People We Meet on Vacation,” only executed smoother, with better transitions and storyline. When comparing all three of these movies, it’s apparent that the chemistry and dynamic of the leads are very purposeful. When watching, you can feel the emotion between the two and it makes you want to have a love like theirs. With “People We Meet on Vacation,” it just feels like a simple idea of love, not a deeper meaning or portrayal of it. 

It is really hard to find an extraordinary rom-com these days, but that doesn’t mean that these recent movies are all horrible. As I said, I am a sucker for romance and I would give anything romance-related a shot. 

Overall, the movie was an “okay” watch. It’s a simple romance movie that one can watch just for fun, if they’re bored, or if they have nothing else to watch. This movie wouldn’t be at the top of my list, but it could be for others. I would rate it three out of five stars. I did find it a little fun at first, but after watching it, it didn’t linger in my head like some other movies. It had its good moments, but in general it could have been better.