Synopsis
“Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her, these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved.
When she writes, she can pour out her heart and soul and say all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only.
Until the day her secrets are mailed, and suddenly Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.” – jennyhan.com
Review
Confession time: I’m a 26-year-old who loves a good, cheesy YA novel. I also love when they get adapted into movies, especially cute rom-coms. So, when I read “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” earlier this year, and then heard it was getting turned into a movie, I was thrilled! I couldn’t wait to see this adorable book come to life. Cut to a few months later, and I’ve watched the movie twice in one day and I can’t stop thinking about it.
The Netflix movie adaptation of “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” is fantastic. It’s adorable and funny in all the right places. It has the perfect mix of teen angst and fluff to make you feel all the feels. It’s the kind of teen rom-com I’ve been missing lately amidst all the superhero and action movies. It’s a John Hughes movie type for the modern age, but less, you know… racism and misogyny. Like Jenny Han’s books, the movie is positive, witty, hopeful, and cutesy romantic, while balanced with familial bonds, loss, and the struggles of being a teenager.
If you’re a fan of the book(s), the movie makes you fall even more in love these fictional characters and their story. Lana Condor plays the perfect Lara Jean, bringing to life the awkwardness and innocence (although Lara Jean would disagree on the latter) of her character. I was hesitant on the casting of Peter Kavinsky, but Noah Centineo totally pulls off the hunky Mr. Popular, and I may or may not have a slight crush on him now. Also, the chemistry between these two is kind of off the charts. I’ve always been Team Peter in the books, and this movie only enhanced my love for this ship.
However, with all this positivity, I think it should be noted for book fans that there are quite a few changes and things that are missing. The movie does stay true to the premise of the book by sticking to the main plot without changes that cause the movie to lose sight of the original story. Unfortunately, change comes with the territory of book-to-movie adaptations for understandable reasons. There were quite a few changes, big and small, that I wish had made the cut, though. Like Lara Jean’s car accident, Kitty’s reason for sending out the letters, the recital party and how the big blow up went down (I’m not really a fan of how it played out in the movie), Kitty’s obsession with wanting a dog, the way Lara Jean jumps on Peter in the hallway instead of on the track, there was a lack of Josh that I felt played an important role in the book, and Margot seemed different to me… nicer, I guess you could say. Again, these are just points from the book that I missed in the movie. I still love the movie. The changes gave it originality and set it apart from the book.
Overall, I would give the movie a solid “A” with high recommendation. I also hope we get a second and third movie to depict the rest of the trilogy. Plus, I need to see the rest of Lara Jean’s story come to life. Hint Hint, Netflix! 😉
Check out the trailer here, and then head on over to Netflix to watch the movie. Also, do yourself a favor and buy Jenny Han’s books too. 😉
GIF credit: alexsheathes
