Emily Henry’s novel, “People We Meet on Vacation,” was recently turned into a movie. The film was released on Netflix on Jan. 9. The director, Brett Haley, worked alongside Henry to make the film closely related to the book. However, as a person who read the book and watched the movie, I thought that the book was better.
The story follows two longtime friends who have spent years taking trips together, sharing memories, inside jokes and unspoken feelings. The movie moves back and forth through different vacations, slowly revealing how Alex (played by Tom Blyth) and Poppy’s (played by Emily Bader) relationship changes over time. This structure works well, and kept me engaged while showing how every small moment led them to fall in love.
At the center of the story is Poppy, who is loud, impulsive and always chasing her next adventure. She’s the type of person who says yes before thinking and believes experiences matter more than plans. On the surface, Poppy seems confident and fearless, but the movie slowly reveals that her constant need to be moving comes from insecurity. She’s scared of being stuck and alone, which is why she loves to travel and never stays long enough in one place to settle down.
Alex is the complete opposite. He’s quiet, organized and very much needs a set plan for everything. Alex is thoughtful and kind, but also terrible at expressing his feelings. He values stability and safety, never wanting to go out of his comfort zone. He cares deeply about Poppy, but instead of being honest about his feelings, he hides behind logic and responsibility. However, as he goes on vacation with Poppy, he begins to become “vacation Alex.” This version of Alex is more outgoing and willing to do things outside of his comfort zone, which shows the influence that Poppy has on Alex.
What makes the movie stand out is the dynamic between Poppy and Alex. Their friendship feels very natural. Watching them grow apart over time is frustrating as a viewer because I know that they both love each other, yet are scared to admit it. Poppy and Alex’s relationship has always been so full of love. In the book and novel, the feelings between them were always fairly obvious. However, in the novel, you are able to imagine each scene in the way you want. While reading, I always pictured that there was more love between the 2 from the beginning. However, in my opinion, the movie lacked the love and tension I thought were there throughout some of the scenes.
I enjoyed the vacation aspect because it showed how they were in different stages of their life yet still made time for each other. Also, as a person who has a passion for traveling, I really enjoyed the way that, in both the novel and the film, traveling brought them together. I see traveling in the same way. It always helped bring me closer to those I traveled with.
I am always in the mood for a good rom-com and I thought the movie did just that. However, the creative liberty that the book provided allowed me to envision more tension between Poppy and Alex from the beginning. I did not feel the tension between them that I had envisioned, which led me to be a little disappointed and enjoy the book more. However, the movie encapsulates a good rom-com that is definitely enjoyable. Overall, I give this movie a 3.5/5.
