The latest BookTok movie remake, released last Friday, provides an adaptation of Emily Henry’s bestselling novel, “People We Meet on Vacation.” Released exclusively on Netflix and directed by Brett Haley (“All the Bright Places”), the movie proves to be another soulless attempt at the rom-com genre and joins the best-selling book-to-film flop pipeline.
Starring Emily Bader (“My Lady Jane”) and Tom Blyth (“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”), the movie follows the relationship between Poppy (Bader), a spontaneous and energetic travel writer, and Alex (Blyth), an uptight, Type-A teacher. After meeting in college, the two friends decide to spend one week every year on vacation together, and both are unable to express their true feelings for years.
Blyth and Bader perform well with the script they are given, with their chemistry and performances convincing enough to sell the friends-to-lovers slow burn. Bader’s Poppy appears chaotic and colorful, and her characterisation leans heavily into the manic pixie dream girl archetype. Blyth plays Alex as restrained and introverted, utilising subtle reactions and expressive eye acting to communicate what Alex is afraid to say out loud. This feels especially clear when both meet in Barcelona and finally confess their feelings, with Blyth’s emotional restraint when Poppy expresses uncertainty being compelling.
Strong chemistry aside, the movie’s pacing and script deliver nothing more than age-old clichés flimsily slapped together. Alex and Poppy encapsulate the opposites-attract trope, a repeat of popular films like “When Harry Met Sally.” Poppy’s unnamed best friend appears once at the beginning of the film to give Poppy some sarcastic girl advice on Alex, and is then forgotten for the rest of the movie. Poppy’s boss, Swapna (Jameela Jamil), remains undeveloped by the end of the movie, despite being a major part in helping Poppy realise her feelings for Alex, and her character’s depth doesn’t extend beyond her English accent and chic corporate wardrobe.
Visually, “People We Meet on Vacation” looks undeniably pretty. Scenes are brightly lit in color and saturation, with all of the different vacations captured with a glossy and postcard-like feel. The costuming in the movie follows suit. Poppy’s vibrant wardrobe makes a good fit for her numerous vacations in Tuscany, Barcelona and New Orleans.
A number of moments during the movie suggest potential for emotional depth, but never push far enough. Poppy questions herself often, asking Alex, “Am I broken?” and referencing concepts such as being “love-bombed,” but these moments feel more like buzzwords and don’t dig as deep as the questions deserve. Similarly, the soundtrack choice of Taylor Swift’s “August” when Alex and Poppy see each other in Barcelona represents the movie’s reliance on familiar crowd-pleasers rather than high narrative risks.
“People We Meet on Vacation” holds rich visuals and likable performances, but struggles to leave a lasting impression. Unable to escape the formula it follows so closely, the movie is a fun watch that blends into every other rom-com movie once it ends.
2 tropes out of 5
