It's Easy To Fall For "To All The Boys I've Loved Before"
- Starring Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, Andrew Bachelor, Madeleine Arthur, Israel Broussard
- Rated TV-14
- Romance
- Run time: 1 hr, 39 min
- Directed by Susan Johnson
- On Netflix August 17, 2018
We're in a golden age here, people. There are romcoms a plenty coming out as of late. And there are some amazing coming of age stories in 2018. Combine them both and you get Netflix's newest release, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, based on the book of the same name. It's a delightful throwback to the early-mid 2000's when we were saturated with the stories of teens finding themselves, and hopefully love, in the process.
Lara Jean (Lana Condor) writes letters to the boys who have stolen her heart in the past. It's harmless, right? They're never going to see these words of longing. Until somehow, they do. All the letters get sent out - including one to her sister's (very recent) ex boyfriend who she crushed on. The guys have differing reactions to their love notes, and some wonderful events unfold. The tropes of fake dating and miscommunications are utilized magnificently and TATBILB manages to hold your interest like you may have never thought a romcom could.
The love story is just one facet of this tale that is well done. There's a family dynamic between the three sisters that is believable and endearing. There's an anxiety behind driving that adds a layer of depth to Lara Jean. There's a jock that - of course - has a lot more to offer than his lacrosse skills. There's the guy next door who could be a boyfriend or a boy friend. Everything that may have seemed cliche is told in a way that seems brand new in a time where most films are remakes or sequels.
It would also do this film a disservice to not discuss the cultural aspect of it. The novel originally did feature an Asian American family, and the illustration of that in this film is extremely well done. Their culture is highlighted, but not used as a plot point. There don't seem to be any cringey stereotypes. And between this film and Crazy Rich Asians, I hope to believe that we are at a turning point in seeing this kind of diversity featured in a movie - and in such a natural way. And please let this year be a jumping off point for a romcom renaissance. It's obvious we want and need them. Long live the teen romcom!