In this icy beginning of the year, as we return to our daily tran-tran, Netflix transports us to the lofty and exotic locations and makes us think about our next holiday with People we meet on vacation — A love on vacation. The film, taken from the eponymous novel by Emily Henry, is directed by Brett Haley and, released on the platform on January 9, has already conquered the top ten.
People we meet on vacation: un viaggio lungo dieci anni
Poppy Wright seems to live a dream life: lives in New York, but spends his time traveling luxury hotels in luxury hotels around the world for the prestigious magazine he writes for. When his old friend David calls her to remind her of her imminent wedding in Barcelona, however, Poppy goes into crisis: Alex, David’s brother and his former best friend will be present at the party. Despite the opposite characters the two were inseparable for almost a decade, until a mysterious break during a holiday in Tuscany: the film traces their history through their annual summer adventures around the world, while the two will be forced to meet and face all the unspoken in their relationship..
People we meet on vacation: mal di comfort
People we meet on vacation is definitely a comfort movie: Maybe too much. Because in the technical aspects at the end it is a quarry — except in the performance of the most meaningful moments, a little telenovelesche — but it is so busy to provide us with a predictably pleasant experience that we completely forget to try to interest ourselves. Beyond the megamix of every single style of Netflix romcoms, from the inevitable marriage to the emergence of exotic locations (at least to American eyes) to the Big Dramatic Scene in the rain, the film tries to be such an experience without friction for the viewer who ends up being perceived as irrelevant, a non-experience.
Incerta piacevolezza
The evening before watching People we meet on vacation I found myself revisiting the classic Romacom Stregata from the moon with Cher and a very young Nicolas Cage. Also this a comfort movie without the shadow of any doubt, and without any particular pretense of artisticity or being anything but simple, innocent entertainment. However, I found myself strangling my eyes, to be in tension for the characters, not to be sure how they will solve their problems. The film was challenging me, and this was triggering my attention.
And it is not to pull out a sterile complaint about the fact that “they no longer make films of once” and contemporary cinema sucks — absolutely not. 2025 was a great year, and I have good hopes for 2026. But that’s why it’s worth remembering Netflix: a little clutch can be a good thing. A public on thorns can be a good thing. Even a stupid Romacom can (and should) involve us, kidnap us, excite us.
Il cast
Emily Bader is Poppy, a chaotic journalist who lives perennially on the move — who wants it or not. Tom Blyth instead is Alex, historical friend of Poppy and his opposite: patient, methodical, stable and affectionate to the family to the historic girlfriend Sarah, played by Sarah Catherine Hook. Jameela Jamil is Swapna, editor and mentor of Poppy to the magazine. In the film also Lucien Laviscount as Trey, one of Poppy’s boyfriends, and Miles Heizer in David’s brother Alex and friend of Poppy.
L’articolo People we meet on vacation: Netflix success is the opposite of a surprise – The review comes from Dituttounpop.it.
