People We Meet on Vacation - Jan 2026 - Movie Review

I had not thought I would enjoy this movie as much.
An almost 2h romance comedy (romcom) which kept me interested throughout its duration..

I had not seen this in the past, but when I saw it on Netflix, I knew I would watch it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22740896/

Vacation, traveling, meeting people, romantic and comedy. What's not to like?

Story:

Poppy wants to explore the world and Alex prefers to stay home with a good book, but somehow they are the very best of friends. They live far apart, but for a decade they have spent one week of summer vacation together.

The story is around two best friends and their relationship, how it started, how it evolves and what kind of funny (or sometimes hurtful) things that happen to them.

From the very first moments, I was pleasantly surprised, as the movie starts with a few twists.

The movie starts as familiar setup, but quickly reveals layers, playful plot, and some pretty enlightening flashbacks that reveal the true story.

The film is an adaptation of the popular novel by Emily Henry, a book from an author that built a loyal fanbase thanks to its modern take on love, friendship, and timing.

Its transition to the screen was a must. The story is interesting, built on a good plot and has some really interesting characters who feel more real than idealized.

People We Meet on Vacation follows two protagonists whose relationship unfolds over time, places, and emotional phases.

Vacations become milestones, of who they are and who they are becoming.

Can a man an a woman be true friends? Is Poppy in love with Alex, or vice versa? How can their partners allow them to go on vacation with each other every year, without them?

One of the film’s biggest strengths is its flow. The pacing feels natural, the story moves back and forth through time using flashbacks, which are absolutely necessary. As viewers, we don’t fully understand what went wrong, what changed, or what is being avoided until the puzzle pieces slowly come together.

The cast is made up of fresh and young actors (I did not know them to be honest, but I think that we will be seeing more of them in the future)

Their chemistry between them feels effortless and natural.

This film earns its place in the good rom-com category. It has humor, romance, and unpredictability to keep it from feeling cliché.

Overall, People We Meet on Vacation is a warm, funny, and surprisingly layered film that leaves a very nice aftertaste after you watch it. I would definitely rate it over a 6, and for rom-com fans, I think it's worth the watch.

Quote by Poppy:

Home is where you can be entirely yourself. In fact, home doesn't have to be a place at all. It doesn't matter where you go or what you do. When you're with the person who loves you for you, you're always home.

Director: Brett Haley

Writers: Yulin Kuang, Amos Vernon. Nunzio Randazzo

Stars: Emily Bader, Tom Blyth, Sarah Catherine Hook

My rating? 6.1 (on the plus side)
Imdb rating? 6.7

Here are a few of the featured reviews:

You can watch the trailer and please let me know your thoughts when you watch the film!