Why ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ is the meet-cute romcom that has fans swooning

Aside from sweeping romances, I am also becoming a huge fan of meet-cute love stories. What brought this on? It would be “People We Meet on Vacation” on Netflix. 

I was completely captivated by the leads in this film, soaking up the clever, quirky script and feeling deeply moved by the tenderness of the direction. It's been a minute since a movie has charmed me as much.

Imagine storylines that are playful yet unforgettable, similar to "Love, Rosie," "Crazy, Stupid, Love," "27 Dresses," "Knocked Up," and "The Back-Up Plan," as well as timeless classics like "Notting Hill" and "When Harry Met Sally".

Adapted from Emily Henry's 2021 novel, this romcom by Bretty Haley is based on a screenplay developed by Nunzio Randazzo, Amos Vernon and Yulin Kuang.

At the heart of the story are Poppy Wright (Emily Bader) and Alex Nilsen (Tom Blyth).

Poppy, a writer based in New York City, lives the life many only dream of as she travels the world and documents her experiences. Her constant globetrotting means she is always on the move, leading to a passport full of stamps and a large stack of accumulated mail at home.

However, an inconsolable emptiness persists. When Poppy receives a call from David, Alex's brother, about his upcoming wedding in Barcelona, she seizes the chance to reconnect with Alex.

And the reason for her wanting to do so becomes clear - she and Alex haven’t spoken in two years.

When they meet again in Barcelona, their friendship as college students bonding on a road trip to Linfield, Ohio, is told in flashbacks. Their yin and yang personalities were clear from the outset. 

She is a go-with-the-flow kind of person. Alex, on the other hand, is more organised and a stickler for details. 

A strong connection forms between them, despite their differences, culminating in a shared vow: to reunite for one week every summer.

Despite Poppy's various relationships and Alex's recurring struggles with Sarah Torval (Sarah Catherine Hook), they maintained a strong, unwavering commitment to their summer trips over the years, until their fallout.

Their wild and fun-filled travels include Squamish, Canada, New Orleans and Tuscany, where “travel Alex” is activated, much to Poppy's amusement. 

Their shared bond is clear, so much so that it is perceived as a threat by their partners.

What caused the falling out between these once inseparable best friends? If you haven’t watched the movie yet, stop reading!

Let’s just say a pregnancy scare, an unexpected, and a rejection quickly followed by a proposal created an awkward situation. 

The resulting ghosting left words unsaid and feelings deeply hurt.

The Barcelona reunion is fraught with awkwardness. Viewers are torn between wanting the pair to finally act on their feelings and the necessity of confronting the truth.

A lifelong fear of serious commitment has constantly overshadowed Poppy. And Alex has always been ready for the long haul and to put down roots. 

Their issue was never a lack of love, but rather a disagreement on how to progress their relationship.

This movie ticked a few boxes for me. Firstly, the chemistry between the chalk and cheese leads was infectious. They got the viewer invested in their journey. 

The writers explored the friendship with a surrealism that is universally applicable to all relationships. The deeply touching "I get you" and "I have your back" moments are both inspiring and incredibly relatable, hitting a perfect emotional note.

The distinct approach of exploring a romance by chronicling summers spent in stunning cities, which created mind-blowing moments and deepened connections, was also something I thoroughly enjoyed.

Of course, you will need to watch the movie to see why cliches like “opposites attract” and “home is where the heart is” ring true for this couple. 

Rating: **** a standout film with exceptional qualities.