During winter break, I found myself scrolling mindlessly through Netflix. Desperate for something that might allow me to sit still for more than a 15-second TikTok, I was searching for some form of entertainment. When “People We Meet on Vacation” appeared on my screen, I was immediately intrigued. As much as it pains me to admit, I’ve never been one to pass up on a modern, slightly painful-to-watch rom-com. I assumed it would be entertaining, or instantly forgettable at worst.
It turns out, I was pleasantly surprised.
Somewhere along the movie, it no longer felt like background noise and started feeling like something intentional. I caught myself extremely locked in on Poppy and Alex with their sweet dynamic and endearing adventures. By the time it ended, I wasn’t just obsessed with them and their story, I was hit with nostalgia for a kind of movie I didn’t realize I missed.
Based on Emily Henry’s bestselling novel, “People We Meet on Vacation” follows Poppy and Alex. The two meet in college and form an unlikely friendship. Over the course of a decade, they take annual trips together, and every vacation captures the new versions of them and the anticipation of who they might become. As they grow older and their lives change, so does their relationship. They soon find themselves in the unspoken and uncomfortable space between friendship and something more. Even before they realize it, it’s painfully obvious that they’re madly in love, leaving watchers waiting for the moment they admit it to themselves and each other.
You might be thinking that the plot may sound like any other rom-com, but what makes “People We Meet on Vacation” feel special is exactly this: It doesn’t try to reinvent the genre but instead transports the audience back to a time where romantic comedies weren’t riddled with millennial humor and bad actors. It reflects the simplicity, slow development and emotional vulnerability of some of the classics. It allows years to pass in the story of Poppy and Alex without forcing dramatic turning points. In doing so, it reflects the emotional rhythm that defined the rom-coms audiences grew up with.
Here are three ways I found it echoes our favorite rom-com classics. If you’re a classics lover on the fence about watching it, I hope this convinces you.
1. The Slow Burn - “When Harry Met Sally”
“People We Meet on Vacation” is nothing if not committed to the slow burn. Just like Harry and Sally, Poppy and Alex spend years convincing themselves that their insane chemistry is just a friendship. Their unmistakable tension is fueled by the fear that admitting there is something more between them will endanger what already exists.
2. Travel as a means of emotional space - “Before Sunrise”
The vacations that Poppy and Alex take together serve as emotional markers. Each trip they take symbolizes a unique version of themselves that can’t be revisited. The dialogue is intimate and imperfect, making the audience feel like they’re listening in on a private moment rather than watching a performance. Like “Before Sunrise,” it proves that dialogue can carry a story.
3. Comfort of a happy ending - “Notting Hill”
The movie embraces the comforting predictability of classics like “Notting Hill.” While still being engaged in the story, you don’t have to stress that the characters won’t end up together. While modern movies often attempt to incorporate reinvention and irony in an unnatural manner, “People We Meet on Vacation” gives into the craving of connection and happy endings without apology.
“People We Meet on Vacation” doesn’t force itself to be a return of the classics through flashy announcements or marketing. It just happens to feel like one. It allows audiences to experience something they didn’t even realize they were missing. In doing so, it provides nostalgia, humor and an adorable love story that’ll make it a late night rewatch – dare I say, my favorite one – for years to come.
