People We Meet On Vacation

Who doesn't need a good rom-com in their lives right now? With the weather still cold, rainy and gloomy, and the world feeling more and more chaotic by the day, a little lighthearted escape has never been more welcome.

I have been excited for this movie ever since I heard it was in the works. I will admit that I haven’t read the book, so I can’t speak to how faithful the adaptation is, but I’ve been a Tom Blyth fan since The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, so I was especially eager to see him take the lead in a romantic comedy.

The story is a slow-burn enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance centered on Alex and Poppy, our two main characters. From the very beginning, I felt instantly drawn to Poppy. She’s quirky, free-spirited, a little weird, and completely unapologetic about who she is; the kind of character who quickly becomes a comfort character and someone I can easily imagine myself being friends with. Emily Bader is great in the role, bringing a sense of familiarity to Poppy’s character that makes her feel relatable and reliable.

Alex is her complete opposite. He's quite stoic, grounded, and loves his routine. When the two of them first meet, he has no real interest in traveling and exploring the world, whilst Poppy dreams of finding a job that will send her all around the globe. After a frosty start to their relationship, the two of them quickly warm up to each other and, despite their differences, become friends. With Poppy's help, Alex embraces a wilder "Vacation Alex" persona for their summer trip. To no one's surprise, Tom Blyth shines in the role, finding the perfect balance between Alex’s awkward, introverted side and the moments where his natural charm comes through.

After an eventful, funny first summer holiday spent together camping in Squamish, Alex and Poppy make a pact to always go on an annual summer vacation together.

Told in a non-linear format, the story spans a decade of Alex and Poppy’s friendship: from trips to New Orleans and Tuscany to the present day, where their relationship has grown distant and strained. As their bond deepens over time, we grow increasingly fond of them both. In the present, Poppy travels to Barcelona for Alex’s brother’s wedding, hoping to rekindle their friendship.

The movie has pretty much everything you need from a romantic comedy. The structure and pacing are good. The dialogue is cute. The music choices are solid (Taylor Swift!!!, Robyn, ODESZA). It leans heavily into its tropes and executes them well (with a clear inspiration drawn from When Harry Met Sally). But most importantly, Emily Bader and Tom Blyth's chemistry is through the roof. As a big rom-com defender, I have long conceded that a rom-com movie can have so many deficiencies as long as the chemistry between the two leads is strong. And these two are just so damn watchable. Their charisma and chemistry radiate through every scene they share.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect girls’ night movie, something to watch with your partner, or simply an escape from the real world on your own, this film is a great choice. I read a Letterboxd review about this movie that really stayed with me, which said: All the places they went to, but in the end, home was with each other. I think that line perfectly captures the heart and soul of this movie.