A “When Harry Met Sally” wannabe or a classic right person, wrong time rom-com? “People We Meet on Vacation” is a story about the inevitable, suppressed yearning of romantic love situated in a platonic relationship across years, cities and missed chances. Adapted from Emily Henry’s novel by the same name, the film follows Poppy (Emily Bader), an irrepressibly restless travel writer, and Alex (Tom Blyth), her reserved and unexpected best friend. Their relationship is told through a series of flashbacks to annual summer trips that veer closer and closer to the unavoidable confession of their feelings, culminating in the present, where they reunite at Alex’s brother’s wedding after two years of not speaking to one another.
She is outgoing; he is quiet. He loves to run; she hates it. Both are from the same hometown that she detests and where he wants to spend the rest of his life. Poppy and Alex’s unexpected relationship obtains its strength from the curiosity, care and comfort each finds in the other. While the movie is fun, pleasurable and entertaining, the love story at the core of “People We Meet on Vacation” sometimes feels like it creates its own problems, leaving its central relationship structurally frustrating.
The film leans heavily on familiar rom-com archetypes. Poppy embodies the well-loved manic pixie dream girl: she is restless, talkative and defined by her refusal to stay in any one emotional or physical place for too long. Alex, on the other hand, plays the classic role of the brooding, contained man whose reservation is meant to signal depth rather than distance. In the film’s early scenes, this dynamic is strained as both characters feel out of touch, making their relationship feel unbelievable and forced. Their banter, particularly in a scene in which they drive together, feels repetitive and only there to worldbuild. Thankfully, over time, their relationship falls into a rhythm that is both humorous and heartfelt.
Unfortunately, the major fault in the writing of Poppy’s character is the push too far into the archetype of a manic pixie dream girl. She is framed as unstable, a bit of a mess and constantly chases dreams that seem unattainable. However, she ultimately succeeds in pursuing her dream of living in New York and traveling the world as a job. The film often showcases this ambition as emotional confusion, stating her need for time and space as evidence that she doesn’t actually know what she wants. In doing so, it quietly contradicts its own logic.
This contradiction is furthered in the conflict during the film’s third act, which hinges on Alex’s accusation that Poppy’s inability to identify her wants — or, in other words, to commit — is the central obstacle to their relationship. However, he is painfully hypocritical in this argument. Alex’s character repeatedly breaks up and gets back together with his long-term girlfriend and abandons his earlier academic aspirations, which begs the question of who is truly the one who lacks commitment and who is the one painted as such.
Oftentimes, when films are adapted from a novel, the author’s style and tone get lost. However, by playing a major role in the production of the movie, Henry’s writing is not forgotten. In the original book, each chapter was either left on a cliffhanger or ended with a perfect setup for the next plot point, keeping the reader engaged and eager to read on. This cadence is translated into the film and works in its favor, with seamless time jumps between the present and Poppy and Alex’s past vacations together, which could easily have made the plot disorienting but only strengthens the storytelling.
The soundtrack is undoubtedly the most satisfying and salvaging part of the film. Each song, from “Genesis” by Grimes to “Forever Your Girl” by Paula Abdul and “Hang With Me” by Robyn, slips perfectly into the film and aids in moving the story along. Not only does each song fit comfortably into its scene, but it also acts as a crutch to the actors’ performances.
Ultimately, “People We Meet on Vacation” remains an undeniably easy film to watch and enjoy. It moves within the comfort of a familiar love story and adds the excitement of travel and music. Even when its emotional logic falters, the film retains a surprising capacity for the heart. As the film closes, the simple human wish to see these two people find their way back to each other after years of missed timelines is hard to resist, and it will have the viewer yearning for a beach vacation.
