With its complex characters and comfort feel, “The People We Meet on Vacation” is a must-watch for rom-com lovers.
The movie was released on Netflix on Jan. 9 and is an adaptation of Emily Henry’s #1 New York Times Bestselling novel. The story follows outgoing Poppy Wright and more introverted Alex Nilsen. The two first meet when Alex gives Poppy a ride to their hometown of Linfield, Ohio, where the two quickly become close friends. For years after they meet, the two take a vacation together every summer, where they form romantic feelings that they struggle to ignore. Everything changes when one trip explodes into a fight, and the two lose contact. Now, with Poppy agreeing to attend Alex’s brother’s wedding, they are forced to face each other after years apart.
“People We Meet on Vacation” features main leads Emily Bader, who plays Poppy, and Tom Blyth, who plays Alex. Both actors have starred in numerous successful TV shows and movies, for example, “My Lady Jane” and “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.”
Bader and Blyth perfectly shed light to the carefully thought-out and complex characters; Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen. Poppy is a free-spirited girl, always moving and never wishing to settle down. Her bubbly personality is portrayed flawlessly by Bader who carries out Poppy’s jokes so perfectly, making laughs bound to be drawn from any crowd that watches this hilarious rom-com.
Even more, Blyth does a marvelous job at playing Alex’s tense, cautious and measured persona. He embodies a man who wants nothing more than to stay rooted in his hometown, the complete opposite of Poppy. This is what causes their characters to clash in such an amusing way. Both actors intensified the undeniable chemistry between Poppy and Alex and truly brought the characters to life.
Although the movie is done very well, there are some parts of the book that were changed or left out. One key example is the way Poppy and Alex meet. In the book, the main characters first meet at their college orientation, but don’t see each other again until the road trip. Another change is the destination of the wedding, and that Poppy isn’t even invited. In the book, the wedding takes place in Palm Springs, California, and Poppy lies to Alex and tells him that she is going to Palm Springs for work. In the movie, however, the wedding takes place in Barcelona, and Poppy is invited to the wedding by Alex’s brother. Although these changes are pretty significant to the plot, the movie is still just as enjoyable as the book.
This movie symbolized every aspect of what a true rom-com is supposed to look and feel like. Whether you’re looking for witty banter, highly entertaining (or embarrassing) moments or life-long lessons meant for everyone, “People We Meet on Vacation” has it all. From iconic travel destinations to spontaneous dance breakouts to a long-awaited kiss in the rain, the nature of Poppy and Alex stir up heartfelt emotions that are sure to make an audience smile in awe and root for the characters.
The movie emphasizes facing your biggest fears and working past them, and how vulnerability is always a risk but is often worth taking. Even more, it shows how home is wherever you make it, with whomever you like. As put beautifully by Poppy, “Home is where you can be entirely yourself. In fact, home doesn’t have to be a place at all. It doesn’t matter where you go, or what you do. When you’re with the person who loves you for you, you’re always home. Even on vacation.”
