“People We Meet on Vacation,” released Jan. 9 on Netflix, is a romantic comedy that focuses on timing, friendship and the idea that sometimes just what you needed has been in front of you this whole time. The movie follows two main characters, Poppy and Alex, who embark on numerous trips together over the years, gradually developing a complex relationship that is hindered by miscommunication and emotional distance. At its core, the movie illustrates how people grow and change, and how these changes impact their relationships. It’s not just a love story, but also a story about personal growth and learning how to just be honest with yourself and others. As someone who read the book before watching the movie, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the movie replicated the book.
Cinematography was one of the movie’s strongest aspects. The movie uses travel locations very effectively; each vacation felt emotionally meaningful. The wide shots of beaches, cities and landscapes help emphasize the passage of time and also the characters’ evolving relationship. I also couldn’t help but notice the lighting playing a big role, too. Brighter, warmer tones were used during happier moments, while cooler colors appeared when the characters were emotionally distant. Overall, the cinematography is good because it adds depth to the story instead of distracting from it. Another aspect that was a huge positive for me was how colorful this movie was. The film had a bright, poppy color palette that made it very visually appealing.
The casting is another strong point. The two leads have convincing chemistry, which is extremely important for a movie that relies on subtle moments rather than big ones. If this movie turns out to be very big, it would be because of Poppy Wright (Emily Bader) and Alex Nilsen (Tom Blyth). Their performances are convincing because they rely on facial expressions, pauses and tone rather than big speeches. They both blend seamlessly together, and it was super fun to watch them and their contrasting personalities in the film make a perfect friends-to-lovers trope. Sarah (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Trey (Lucien Laviscount) were both key characters since they played pivotal roles in the central conflict of the movie. Hook portrays Alex’s ex and Laviscount as significant figures in Poppy’s life, adding many layers to the story.
The costume design is subtle but meaningful throughout the movie. Instead of overly stylized outfits, the characters wear clothing that reflects who they are and where they are in life. Early in the movie, the costumes are more casual and carefree, matching the relaxed tone of the vacations and the character’s youthful energy. As the characters evolve, so do their outfits. Poppy’s outfits were the ones I enjoyed the most. She had aspirational outfits that embodied all the locations they visited, and one of my favorites was her green satin dress towards the end of the movie.
The writing of the script is the most crucial part in any movie, of course, but especially when you are recreating an Emily Henry book. Personally, I think the movie did a great job at making the dialogue very realistic, and I think they tried making Poppy a lot more pleasant in the movie because in the book, there were a lot of people who found her not as likable. Some things I didn’t enjoy as much were how frequently they had flashbacks because it felt a little cluttered, and it was easy to get lost. Overall, though, considering the book’s length, I think they did a good job with the script and made it go at a good pace. They did well in adding new, charming scenes that weren’t in the book, while also retaining some of the most loved scenes from the original.
One of my favorite things about the movie was its soundtrack. It was perfectly curated in my opinion and fit the vibe of the movie perfectly. The most memorable track for the movie will most likely be “August” by Taylor Swift. The music drove the story and added to the various emotionally deep scenes that were included in the film.
Overall, “People We Meet on Vacation” is a thoughtful and emotionally engaging film that met my high expectations coming in. While the pacing slows at points, the payoff feels earned, leaving the audience with something to think about long after the credits roll. I’m rating it four stars because of its strong performances and realistic portrayals of love and friendship.
“People We Meet on Vacation:” ★★★★☆
