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People We Meet on Vacation: Netflix Finally Gets Rom-Coms Right Again
- Sakshi D
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Emily Henry’s novel comes to life with perfect casting and genuine charm
I need to start by saying I absolutely loved this movie. Like, genuinely smile-inducing, warm-fuzzy-feeling loved it. People We Meet on Vacation is exactly what I’ve been craving from rom-coms lately, and Netflix actually delivered.
Can we please bring back more of these? They are SO GOOD.
TMJ Rating: 🍿🍿🍿🍿/5
The Casting Was Absolutely Perfect
Emily Bader and Tom Blyth were so perfectly cast I can’t imagine anyone else playing these roles. The chemistry between them jumps off the screen in every single scene. You can feel the history, the unspoken feelings, the comfort of a decade-long friendship.
Bader brings this fiery, quirky energy to Poppy that could have been annoying in the wrong hands, but feels completely authentic. She embodies this woman who doesn’t quite know what she wants, except that she needs to escape home and experience everything.
Tom Blyth is perfect as the uptight, bookish Alex who prefers staying in his comfort zone. Watching him get pulled into Poppy’s adventures while clearly being uncomfortable made me uncomfortable for him in the best way. He sells every awkward, out-of-place moment beautifully.
Their banter feels natural and witty. The chemistry isn’t forced or manufactured for the camera. These genuinely feel like two people who’ve known each other for years and are slowly realizing their friendship might be something more.
The Story Works Despite Changes
As someone who read Emily Henry’s book, I noticed the changes they made for the adaptation.
Some places got switched around, like Barcelona replacing Palm Springs for the final trip. They cut down Alex’s family and removed his cat entirely (which was a loss for his character, honestly).
The road trip home from college got stretched way longer than it needed to be. That whole sequence with the burrito spill, locked keys, motel with one bed felt like a When Harry Met Sally tribute that dragged a bit.
They also changed how Poppy and Alex reconnect. In the movie, his brother calls her about the wedding rather than her making that active choice to reach out. That shift makes her feel slightly less proactive.
But here’s the thing: I felt those changes were necessary to make the movie work as well as it did. Adapting a book means trimming things, combining scenes, and adjusting pacing for a visual medium. The spirit of the story stayed intact even when specific details shifted.
The Cutesy Moments Hit Perfectly
The cutesy romantic moments were really, genuinely cutesy in all the best ways. The New Orleans sequence especially delivered this tender, romantic payoff that made my heart melt.
My absolute favorite addition that wasn’t in the book? Poppy literally chasing after Alex at the end. She’s huffing and puffing, clearly hating every second of running, and it’s both hilarious and romantic. That physical comedy mixed with emotional payoff was chef’s kiss perfection.
(BTW, I don’t like running either, but if I had the pleasure of knowing Alex, I’d run too.)
The movie knows how to balance humor with heart. You get laugh-out-loud moments (especially at Alex’s expense as he awkwardly navigates travel and new experiences) mixed with genuinely sweet scenes that make you root for these two idiots to figure themselves out.
The Comedy Really Lands
This movie made me laugh out loud multiple times. The humor comes naturally from the characters and their dynamic rather than feeling forced or try-hard.
Alex getting increasingly uncomfortable in situations Poppy drags him into provides consistent comedy gold. The physical comedy, the awkward moments, the culture clash between his homebody nature and her adventurous spirit all create organic laughs.
Supporting characters like Poppy’s parents (Molly Shannon and Alan Ruck) steal their brief scene with cringe-worthy, hilarious energy. Even minor characters add flavor and humor without distracting from the main relationship.
Why People We Meet on Vacation Works So Well
People We Meet on Vacation succeeds because it remembers what makes rom-coms great: likeable characters with genuine chemistry going through relatable situations. The opposites-attract dynamic between Poppy and Alex feels earned rather than contrived.
The flashback structure lets you piece together their history while watching them try to reconnect in the present. You understand why these two matter to each other and why losing that friendship devastated Poppy.
The movie is colorful and vibrant, rejecting that washed-out modern look for Technicolor romantic energy. Every vacation setting feels distinct and adds to their story.
At just under two hours, the runtime is longer than typical rom-coms, but the pacing stays engaging. The variety of locations and the evolving relationship keep things moving without dragging.
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We Need More of This!
Seriously, can we make more rom-coms like this? The genre works when you have:
Actors with actual chemistry
Characters you want to root for
Humor that comes from personality
Romance that builds naturally
A story that prioritizes charm over cynicism
People We Meet on Vacation checks all those boxes and reminded me why I love this genre in the first place.
Should You Take This Vacation?
If you love rom-coms, watch this immediately. If you read Emily Henry’s book, you’ll enjoy seeing the story come to life, even with the changes. If you’re just looking for something that’ll make you smile and restore your faith in Netflix rom-coms, this delivers.
The movie is sweet, funny, and leaves you with that satisfied feeling good rom-coms provide. It’s highly rewatchable comfort food that prioritizes making you happy over trying to subvert expectations or be edgy.
I’m thrilled Emily Henry has two more adaptations coming to Netflix (Happy Place and Funny Story). If they maintain this level of quality and casting, we’re in for a treat.
Fellow rom-com lovers, did this restore your faith in the genre? Who else is obsessed with Emily Bader and Tom Blyth’s chemistry? Let me know!
