People We Meet on Vacation
The brief
Brett Haley turns Emily Henry's beloved rom-com novel into a sun-soaked meditation on timing and friendship that feels more like *Before Sunrise* than *The Kissing Booth*. Emily Bader and Tom Blyth have genuine chemistry that builds slowly across gorgeous vacation backdrops, but the nearly two-hour runtime lets some scenes meander when they should snap with tension. The will-they-won't-they dynamic works because both actors sell the genuine friendship underneath all the romantic possibility. Perfect for anyone who loved *The Half of It* or thinks most romantic comedies rush to the finish line too quickly.
The verdict
If you crave slow-burn romance with authentic friendship at its core and don't mind a leisurely pace, this sun-drenched adaptation delivers genuine chemistry and emotional depth that most rom-coms skip entirely. If you prefer snappy pacing and quick romantic payoffs, the nearly two-hour runtime will test your patience as scenes linger when they should accelerate.
Watch with
- 👫 Perfect date night viewing
- 👥 Great for rom-com fans
- ⚠️ May feel slow for action seekers
Heads up
- Brief romantic tension and yearning (brief)
- Some drinking in vacation settings (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Brett Haley
- Cast
- Emily Bader, Tom Blyth, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil, Miles Heizer, Tommy Do, Lucien Laviscount
Official synopsis
Poppy's a free spirit. Alex loves a plan. After years of summer vacations, these polar-opposite pals wonder
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Dirty Dancing (1987)
Both explore romance blooming during transformative vacation experiences with opposites attracting.
Total runtime: 1h 56m + 1h 40m = 3h 36m
