To All the Movies I’ve Hated Before
“To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” is a let down.
February 14, 2020
“To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You,” released on February 12, sequels the Netflix Original, “To All the Boy I’ve Loved Before,” which was produced based on a novel written by American author Jenny Han. Although I have a strong animosity against all things romantic comedy, I did not completely hate the first movie. However, the second…I have entirely opposite opinions.
This movie sequel tells the story of Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and her relationship with Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo). The plot surrounds Lara Jean who continues to explore the mysteries of the world of love. As she ventures through the film, she experiences setbacks such as learning how to deal with fighting, jealousy and insecurities that seem to be a side effect of being in a relationship. These conflicts escalate when one of her love letters, like the one she sent to Peter in the first film, returns to her, along with a love interest of the past.
Compared to the first film, which was cute and one of the better romantic comedies I have watched, this film was a massive disappointment. But maybe that’s just my fault for going into it with any high hopes.
To begin, the most pressing issue that I found in the film was the plotline. The storyline in the film was completely pointless. By the end of the film, I felt like it ran around in circles with no real purpose. There’s no significant character development or any unique or interesting moral to the story other than, “Well, sometimes couples fight, but in the end everyone’s happy.”
In addition to the plotline, one of the most important pieces of a film, the ending, was underwhelming and confusing. When the movie ended, the only thought that came to my mind was, “What?” It was probably one of the most unsatisfying endings I have ever watched. Midway through the film, I thought there would be some sort of plot twist that would put even an ounce of meaning into the film, but no.
If I had to find anything enjoyable about this film, the only thing I can think of is the actors. Although their acting was not the most phenomenal acting that I have ever seen, it was decent enough. The cast was well-put-together, and the actors gave their characters unique personalities. The characters also interacted with strong chemistry during the films, so I applaud the actors for their work.
But, again, this is the only good thing I found in the film. Most romantic comedies do not get sequels as to not interrupt the satisfaction of the first film’s happy ending. Unfortunately, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” did not follow this guideline. I wish the filmmakers would have just let the first Netflix Original lay in peace and not be tainted by this sorry excuse for a sequel.
If you feel like wasting time and watching a film about practically nothing, go ahead and watch this film on Netflix. However, if you want to watch a more meaningful romantic comedy, I would stick to the first film. Watching the first film over and over again will be way more worth your time than watching the sequel even once.