I don’t normally talk about shows/movies I dislike- this is the fourth time I’ve done so (and counting?). I’m not sure if I’d even go as far to say that I disliked To All the Boys I Loved Before. I just don’t think it was that good.
One of the first things I noticed while watching this movie was that the pacing, particularly in comedic scenes, was really awkward. The jokes themselves were fine, but because the pacing was off a lot of it missed. Something along with this would be the acting- man the acting just didn’t deliver in this film. There were a lot of scenes I felt like the actors weren’t even trying.
As for the characters themselves…I didn’t like the love interest: I think the movie was going for the charismatic asshole kind of character but he wasn’t all that funny or charismatic; he just came across as dislikable. And the older sister’s ex-boyfriend OH MY GOD was he a dislikable character. Whenever he showed up in a scene I internally sighed. The rest of the characters were just kind of…meh.
Now to the real meat of the movie- the romance! How was the actual romance element in the movie? Eeeeh it was pretty average if not a little below average. There isn’t a lot of chemistry between the two love interests and I think the film was aware of this considering how much emphasis was put on how ‘oh they actually have quite a bit in common’ and ‘wow they’re the only person they’re willing to share this stuff with’ and while yes, these are things that are useful in making friendships and romantic relationships-if there isn’t chemistry it’s hard to believe that the characters actually get along or have fun together. When the main character’s friend told her she seemed happier since she started “dating” the guy I didn’t…buy it? Like I didn’t see that development myself- but I guess I was supposed to believe it because one of the characters said so.
Yikes, I’m being pretty harsh, aren’t I? I think a lot of it roots from that I see this movie as a bit of a missed opportunity. I really liked the premise- the idea of a girl’s love letters she’d written for the five guys she’s fallen for in her life getting “accidentally” sent to all of them is really funny and cute! I think if the movie would have used this premise in a way more similar to Scott Pilgrim vs the Universe that it would’ve been SO INTERESTING. But instead, the movie completely forgets about the letters for the most part and follows a much more boring and basic fake dating storyline. I just… there was so much fun to be had with the letters getting released! Her avoiding confrontation from the guys WHILE she was fake dating one of them, her trying to find out who sent the letters in the first place (seriously, why didn’t this cross her mind), maybe one of the guys gaining interest in her all over again through the letter- I mean if a childhood crush of mine from sixth grade sent me a letter today then I think I would 1) want to ask them about it and 2) quite frankly, be a little endeared. They really missed out and it fucking eats at me.
Another reason I probably came so hard for this movies is because it’s been all over my twitter timeline. And my twitter is a bhna stan account so I REALLY don’t know how it kept getting there, but because of this, I was expecting a little more I guess.
That’s kind of all I have to say about the movie. I honestly didn’t dislike the movie, I just…wanted more? I’m gonna start repeating myself if I go on.
If your interested in seeing the other blog posts I’ve made bashing a tv show/movie then here they are lol:
–Me going on a huge ass rant about How I Met Your Mother: I wrote this like three years ago so my writing isn’t what is now so you’ve been warned. And for some reason I was comparing the show to a book I read around the same time called This is How You Lose Her? I don’t even know why jjjjnkb.
-In this post I talk about two movies: one which I loved (500 Days of Summer) and the other I disliked (While You Were Sleeping).
–Another blog post of me talking about a shitty movie. It’s How to be Single- I don’t think anyone even remembers this one lol.
-Okay so I sort of snapped in this post where I was talking about the final few chapters in Nisekoi, but I wouldn’t say I bashed it.
Romance Junkie 