Movie Review: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
After classics such as “Sleepless in Seattle,” “10 Things I Hate About You” and “She’s The Man,” the romantic comedy genre seemed to disappear from the big screen. However, Netflix recently attempted to revive the genre, following the viral success of the unexpected hit “The Kissing Booth.” Continuing off that success, the company planned to release six new original Rom-Coms this past summer, including “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.” Based on a New York Times best selling novel of the same name, the film quickly became the breakout hit of the summer.
Written by Jenny Han, the novel revolves around quirky teen Lara Jean Covey, played by Lana Condor in the film, as she begins her junior year. Wanting simply to blend in with the crowd and graduate high school, Lara Jean’s worst nightmares come to life as the love letters to all the boys she’s crushed on before are suddenly sent out. Problems continue to grow as one of the love letters is received by Josh Sanderson, her sister’s ex-boyfriend. In an attempt to show her disinterest, Lara Jean teams up with the most popular guy in school, Peter Kavinsky—played by Noah Centineo—who also happens to be another recipient of one of her love letters. Throughout the entire film, the protagonist undergoes a journey of self-discovery and love.
As a fan of Jenny Han’s trilogy, I was naturally skeptical about its adaptation onto the small screen upon hearing the news of the movie’s release. Just by watching the trailer, I already saw the multiple scenes they changed from the book: Kitty, Lara Jean’s younger sister, was now older, Lara Jean actually fainted and the iconic kiss in the hallway was moved to an outdoor track. I found that Noah Centineo looked nowhere near to the Peter Kavinsky had imagined. However, the final result did not disappoint.
Though the film has a predictable plot, the lovable characters and chemistry between the cast makes it a great choice for a light-hearted movie. Centineo’s adorable character combined with Condor’s hilarious facial expressions melted my heart. Watching the movie was like eating a cupcake with rainbow sprinkles: sweet and fluffy. The movie was filled with swoon-worthy scenes that I couldn’t help but smile at: Lara Jean and Kavinsky using each other as pillows during a nap, Kavinsky moving the popcorn off the sofa before a pillow fight and the two of them sharing their favorite movies together. The entire movie revolves around the characters’ love and care for each other.
Not only did Lara Jean and Peter’s relationship blow me away, but it was wonderful to see the love between the Covey family as well. The sisters’ close relationship and constant support for one another was wonderful to see and aspire towards within my own sibling and family.
Released right before “Crazy Rich Asians,” it was amazing to finally see Asian-American representation on film. Growing up watching Hollywood movies, I had rarely seen any Asians on screen with the exception of stereotypically Asian characters like the Kung-fu master in “Karate Kid.” This film stars an Asian-American actress as the lead while the storyline is not fixated on her race. The diversity was very refreshing to see. Both the movie and book also included small details of Korean culture such as the Korean yogurt drink Yakult and Korean-style marinated braised pork.
I’m glad that romantic comedies are finally popular again. Though this genre is often critiqued for its over-the-top and unrealistic plot, it is relaxing to escape the stresses of life every once in a while to appreciate the love between people. I recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a light-hearted movie to make them smile, especially when they are having a sad or stressful day.