Title: People We Meet on Vacation
MPA Rating: PG-13
Director: Brett Haley
Starring: Emily Bader, Tom Blythe, Jameela Jamil
Runtime: 1 hr 57 mins

What It Is: On a drive home from Boston College, students Poppy (Bader) and Alex (Blythe) aren’t exactly seeing eye to eye, that is, until they learn a little more about one another. From there, they make a tradition of spending one week together every year, as friends, somewhere around the globe. They’ve been doing this for quite some time, until something changes. Now, with Alex’s brother’s wedding approaching, he wants Poppy to be there. So here they are, together again, fighting chemistry and biology themselves. But will it actually work?

What We Think: Listen, I’m usually the guy for this. Typically. Let’s start with my biggest issue: Poppy is one of, if not the most annoying characters I’ve ever had the displeasure of dealing with. I genuinely don’t understand what Alex continues to like about her. Despite the gorgeous landscapes and exotic locations, the whole thing feels vapid. I don’t buy the chemistry between the two leads, and that’s ultimately where the film lets itself down. There’s nothing particularly special coming out of the director’s chair, which is disappointing because I love Brett Haley’s previous work. Hearts Beat Loud, All the Bright Places, and I’ll See You in My Dreams are standouts. I’m not sure what happened here. Maybe it’s the subpar writing, but this just isn’t what I’ve come to expect from Haley.

Our Grade: D+, The story follows familiar beats closely enough to keep you engaged, even as you know exactly what’s coming the entire time. At the end of the day, the biggest issue is that nothing here is interesting. There’s another Netflix film I’ve already seen that does this so much better, and I can’t wait to talk about that one. This, though, has no gas in the tank. Sadly, it’s a skip.

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