Typically, when I think about vacations, summer is the month that comes to mind. “Salt air and the rust on your door.” You know the drill. Siri, play “august” by Taylor Swift. As grateful as I am that we got People We Meet on Vacation earlier in the year (because waiting would’ve felt like eons), the summer months really are the best time to rewatch. August, especially given a specific needle drop.
Starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, the best friends-to-lovers second-chance romance, adapted from Emily Henry‘s bestselling novel of the same title, is one of the best rom-coms we’ve had in recent years.
As I said in my review: “The beating heart of a romantic comedy often and always boils down to the humanity at its center—the underlying emotions many of us keep under lock and key, like the fear of being too much or less than. It’s how human beings crack themselves wide open in front of one specific person who takes us as we are and makes the ordinary special. And from start to finish, the characters are at the heart of People We Meet on Vacation, making every second of the movie feel like a small glimpse of magic. From quiet moments to wildly loud ones—everything about it feels right and memorable. This isn’t the type of rom-com we’re going to forget in a few years, but it’s going to be one that’ll continue delivering something to all kinds of viewers who need its magic.”
If it were a limited series, I’d absolutely make time to add it to my yearly watchlist. But still, as a movie, it makes rewatching it every year mandatory. Effortless. We’re all busy this time of year, yet what’s easier than putting on a movie at the end of the night? Nothing. Literally, I’m writing this as the movie plays in the background for the millionth time.
There’s also something extra special about watching it in August because it feels more like an escape this way. Maybe you just got home from your own vacation and are already experiencing the post-travel blues. Maybe everything you’re watching right now is a little too dark and sad, and you need to feel unwavering joy. Or, maybe you’re gearing up for a vacation, and you need some fashion inspiration from Poppy Wright. Whatever the reason is, People We Meet on Vacation hits different in August.
It’s a magical, wild, and endearing ride with excellent banter and even more stunning vulnerability. The chemistry we get between Bader and Blyth is captivating, and with every rewatch, you catch something you didn’t before. And if you’re anything like me, you love seasonal-appropriate things. I have movies I rewatch during every spooky season and the holidays, so to have a movie that’s so perfect for the summer months is a big win. And again, that needle drop? I still cry every time. Friends-to-lovers will always be a favorite trope of mine, and the execution in People We Meet on Vacation is top-tier in every way.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Netflix