Netflix has been killing it in the movie world for a good while now. The streaming service is running out of milestones it has to hit. To All the Boys: Always and Forever is their latest one; Netflix is now the proud owner of a successful film trilogy and franchise, making stars out of the leads Noah Centineo and Lana Condor along the way. With the glut of content Netflix is throwing at the world, they can be proud to have landed this plane, creating a perfectly lovely swoony good time for couples hoping for a relaxing night in.
Fresh off the temptations in the last film, Lara Jean (Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Centineo) are in that romantic sweet spot as a happy couple in their senior year. Storm clouds don’t come in hunky form this time, no. It’s college admissions time, with LJ and PK hoping they both get into Stanford so they can start their always and forever sooner. Despite “Larinsky”‘s attempts at planning, life threatens to pop their little bubble on all sides: what if they don’t get into the same school? What if that New York class trip is more than just a fun weekend getaway? And what if Lloyd Dobler musters up the courage to call Diane? Ok, that last one was from Say Anything…just seeing if you were paying attention.
Always and Forever fixes some of the issues with PS I Still Love You so it can stick its ending. The 2nd film split up Lana Condor and Noah Centineo for large chunks of the movie, rendering a lot of the movie’s resolutions unsatisfying. This one puts them together the minute Lara Jean gets back from her Korean vacation. The pair capture that magic they found in the first movie, gluing the audience to their seats awaiting what will happen next. The last film’s conflict was Lara Jean choosing between two equally gorgeous suitors: I’m sorry, not quite relatable (if it is, then well done you!). The third film’s villain, if there is one, is simply the end of structured life. High school is over – now what? The screenplay finds all the natural conflicts that arise out of that exciting but terrifying time, driving LJ and PK’s relationship all over the place with high highs and low lows. Plus, unlike the last one, there’s lots of gorgeous rite of passage set pieces to hit like a class trip, prom, etc.
That dedication to detail is what makes the To All the Boys films so wonderful to watch. There’s a warmth and knowingness all over the story that washes over you like a hug from the one you love. Like the previous films, I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to see all the beats of the high school relationship experience told from the point of view of a relatively innocent female character. The scripts flip all the goals, emotional high points, and storytelling beats all on their head, making the story familiar and foreign at the same time. This movie also finds that sweet spot between appealing to what I assume are it’s dual audiences: teenagers and older established couples. Younger couples might see Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky as relationship goals. But the older couples? These films might be like looking back at a high school yearbook. The story here walks that tricky line of trying to be hopeful but somewhat realistic, acknowledging the difficulties of keeping a relationship alive but also acknowledging that love might possibly conquer all during a wondrous prom night for example. That level of care and attention to detail makes sure Always and Forever never gets as cheesy as its title, but tiptoes close to make the kids wanna hashtag the film.
To All th3 Boys: Always and For3v3r (still got it!) checks the trilogy box satisfyingly so for the streaming giant. Netflix has checked off many film boxes: throwback romcom, holiday favorite, awesome period piece, action franchise starter, martial arts flick, girl power hangout movie, and cheesy fall asleep to schmaltz. All that might be left for Netflix is a Best Picture Winner now. So Netflix’s hopes now lie with you, Trial of the Chicago 7 and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Good luck, or you’ll be forever banned from the algorithm’s top 10 list.