Category: Rom-Com

“The Last Summer”

7.5
Netflix has been killing it in the rom-com/straight romance movie game lately. Might be why their logo color is red? (Definite T-Swift reference) With this one, they get it right down the middle. It’s not “wow” and it’s not “meh,” but rather somewhere in between. All four (I’m pretty sure I’m counting correctly) storylines each address their own individual conundrum with an almost perfect pace and cadence. The cast all have their own individual “coming of age” summer tale, all set in locations intended to engage your sense of nostalgia. There were many set pieces that reminded me of “American Pie.” Although, you can’t go wrong with the 4th of July profession of love under the fireworks power play. I’d recommend if you’re out of things to watch in your queue and you’re on the hunt for a Saturday night in. The soundtrack is pretty amazing, as well.

“Always Be My Maybe”

7.6
Solid flick. Much like the trailer would lead you to believe, it’s your typical rom-com with some Asian stereotypes mixed in. While that may be true, there were many pleasant surprises sprinkled in this winning recipe. The surprise cameo was pretty amazing.
Anyone who has ever been stuck in a “will they/won’t they” situation will especially appreciate the story that unfolds, as the two leads really play perfectly off of each other. If you’re looking for some light fare this weekend, Netflix upholds its gold standard for feel-good rom-coms with this one.

“Bridget Jones’s Diary”

7.3

Delightfully painful to watch. Definitely cringed every time someone asked “so, how’s your love life.” A hauntingly accurate tale of navigating single-ness and the complications of trying to find perfect in an imperfect world. Brilliant performances by the 3 main characters. I think it’s safe to say Hugh Grant plays the same character in EVERY film. Not mad, though. Great to see the happy ending after a valiant battle between suitors. Conflicted, because I know the honeymoon doesn’t last, as there are 2 more films to galavant through. The original definitely lived up to the hype.