Netflix’s new rom-com, People We Meet on Vacation, is bringing back everything we love about a good book-to-movie adaptation. We enjoyed the movie so much that while trying to write a concrete review, we realized there’s so much to unpack that it would be impossible to put into words how great the movie is. Because of that, grab your sunscreen and sunglasses! Here are four reasons why People We Meet On Vacation is our favorite rom-com.
Based on Emily Henry’s book, People We Meet On Vacation follows Poppy and Alex. The duo had been friends since college and enjoyed traveling every summer. Canada, Norway, and New Orleans saw how Poppy and Alex became friends for life. Or that’s what they thought, because something happened in Italy, and they haven’t spoken again. But after years of zero contact, Alex’s brother’s wedding is happening in Barcelona, and Poppy is invited. It’s time for one last vacation.
Fair warning, Honeybees! This article is full of spoilers!
1. A Friends-To-Lovers That Feels Genuine
We love this trope when it’s well done. It’s fascinating to see how platonic feelings evolve into romantic ones. Sometimes the writers of the stories forget that the characters are first friends and then lovers. What we mean is that the core of the trope is having a fantastic couple dynamic, whose friendship allows the romance to grow. But sometimes, they forget the friendship part and focus only on the romantic one. This isn’t the case with Poppy and Alex. From the very beginning, we see how their bond grows, and the romance part started to make sense after years of being friends. They allow the viewer to be attached to Alex and Poppy’s dynamic so much that, when you see that type of chemistry, it makes sense that they’d end up together.
2. Poppy Belongs On Our Vision Board
Poppy is an amazing main character, and Emily Bader’s performance brought her justice. As the protagonist of the story, we see the complexity of Poppy. She is always cheerful, spontaneous, and ready for an adventure. However, she also has her struggles and fears, and we often see how she battles these two sides of herself to figure out who she is. But that chaos is what makes Poppy feel genuine and relatable. She might have the dream job and seem like she’s living the life, but when you’re fighting with yourself, those things don’t matter. Poppy is a character who experiences human emotions and realistic situations with relatability. Knowing her background also brings more depth to her story.
3. Vacation, Alex!
The funniest part of the movie was when vacation-mode Alex was on. Seeing this shy and serious persona turn into pure chaos might actually be our favorite thing from the film. This side of him also shows how a character can be versatile without forcing it. Vacation Alex wasn’t someone who, out of nowhere, turned into a whole new being. While doing the crazy and bold stuff, Alex was still nervous. Most of the time, even when he enjoyed this phase of himself, he was overthinking and cringing so hard at his actions. We loved how Alex put himself out there and followed Poppy’s philosophy that while on vacation, you could be anyone you want to be.
4. The Destinations, Especially Norway
The soul of the film, of course, is the travel destinations. In each, we get to see how Poppy and Alex met different versions of each other as they blend in with the place. They turn into carefree campers in Canada, a married couple in New Orleans, and someone to hold on to in Norway. Of course, Barcelona is also a destination that will always be part of Poppy and Alex’s memories, as it was the place where they watched it begin again. Travel is the core of their relationship. Since their first unexpected trip, they knew that no matter where they were in the world, they would meet again for a vacation.
People We Meet On Vacation is for sure a rom-com that brings back the charm that movies like When Harry Met Sally and Love, Rosie have. If this was Emily Henry’s first adaptation—and it’s already our favorite one—we can’t wait to see books like Funny Story adapted.
We just told you four reasons why People We Meet On Vacation is our favorite new rom-com. Give us yours by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram!
