'To All The Boys' Movie Review

Introduction

They say that distance makes the heart grow fonder...but they also say that distance is a heart-breaker, especially is you're going to different universities. Can Lara-Jean and Peter keep their, long fought for, love even though they can't keep their distance close?

Key themes

Lara-Jean is in Seoul, South Korea. Peter and Lara-Jean are excited to go to the same college and be together forever.

Peter surprises Lara-Jean when she arrives home from South Korea. She gives him loads of gifts and they spend the night watching films and reuniting.

Lara-Jean's dad proposes to his girlfriend.

Lara-Jean receives a rejection letter from Stanford, the university that her and Peter were going to go together and start their life.

Lara-Jean begins to think that her and Peter would break-up due to long-distance as they have to go to different universities.

Lara-Jean accidently responds to Peter, instead of her sister; allowing Peter to believe that she did get accepted into Stanford.

Peter shows up at Lara-Jean's house to celebrate the fact they got into the same university. Lara-Jean tries to tell Peter the truth but bails.

Peter prom-poses to Lara-Jean.

Lara-Jean gets accepted to Berkley University.

Lara-Jean goes on the Senior's trip to New York. She plans to tell Peter the truth.

On a little night out in New York, Lara-Jean tells Peter the truth. Peter is surprisingly accepting of the fact. He suggests that she transfers to Stanford after freshman year.

Lara-Jean has to tour New York in a group without Peter. She explores NYU (university) and becomes fascinated with the city and lifestyle.

Despite Lara-Jean's undeniable fascination with New York, she convinces herself that going to Berkley and eventually transferring to Stanford is what she wants.

Lara-Jean plans the perfect bowling date for her and Peter.

Lara-Jean gets accepted to NYU. She feels she belongs their but fears the distance will break her relationship.

Lara-Jean tells Peter about NYU. Peter shrugs it off believing Lara-Jean will transfer to Stanford after freshman year. When he realises that she is serious about going to NYU he states that everything is fine but acts awkward afterwards.

Lara-Jean asks Peter to sign her yearbook and Peter seems to take offence, referring to them having to remember one another as they will be miles apart.

Lara-Jean and Peter attend the prom. Peter is voted prom king but Lara-Jean isn't voted prom queen. Lara-Jean admits she feels like she is already missing Peter and so they have a sort-of 'last dance'.

Lara-Jean invites Peter up to her room after he drops her off. She gives him a box filled with all their memories as a gift.

Lara-Jean hints that she wants to have sex, but Peter insists that "it doesn't feel right". He admits that the distance will most likely break their relationship and decides to 'end it early'.

Lara-Jean tells Peter he shouldn't come to her father's wedding.

Lara-Jean's father gets married. At the wedding reception, when everyone is gone, Peter surprises her with a special message in her yearbook, to always love Lara-Jean forever.

Key observations/questions

• Peter claims the first time he met and 'fell in love' with Lara-Jean, was in 6th grade. Referencing to the first film, Lara-Jean claims that she 'fell in love' with Peter after their kiss in 7th grade. If Peter liked Lara-Jean since 6th grade and they kissed in 7th grade - why didn't they end up together? Why did Peter date Gen (Lara-Jean's best-friend, at the time)? The idea of the couple's 'meet-cute' starting at a young age ('puppy-love' etc.) added the 'cuteness' to the love story but in review of the whole trilogy, it doesn't add up or make sense. This also leads to a deeper question - were Lara-Jean and Peter destined to be together? The film thrived on having an unusual love story, so in a sense, this mystery works, however, it stills feels as a lack of continuity of facts.
• Did Gen only gain popularity because she dated Peter? Lara-Jean and Gen appeared to become friendly again in this finale, despite having ending their friendship for years and having strife in the first two films of the series. Gen did not like Lara-Jean. Why was she suddenly so kind to Lara-Jean (to the point she wanted to them go to the university)? Gen seemed to no longer be popular or have many friends - was this because she was no longer dating Peter? Gen became the Lara-Jean from the first film - unpopular with one friend. The whole 'mean girl turned nice' factor makes Gen less of an obstacle to Lara-Jean and Peter's love story and ruins the whole idea that the first film was based on. This idea also refers back to the question of why did Peter date Gen when he liked (and kissed) Lara-Jean?

Conclusion

'To All The Boys: Always and Forever' was a lovely ending to the series. Despite all the hurdles (mostly just other love interests), the couple were able to realise what they wanted and what they were together. I did respect that Lara-Jean didn't change despite gaining popularity and a jock boyfriend; she remained sweet, innocent and full of vibrant life. The finale did showcase other love stories in the Song-Covey family, with Lara-Jean's father and little sister finding love. I think that the reappearance of the character Josh, from the first of the trilogy, would have been exciting and definitely sweetened the theme of love in the film. Also it would have been heart-warming if everyone found love in the Song-Covey family; Margot (Lara-Jean's older sister) became an irrelevant character and had less influence as the series progressed. The reference to culture (South Korea, New York) was interesting and brought a deeper background to the story and kept Lara-Jean's mother's legacy alive, in a sense. The trilogy didn't seem to flow completely and the plot seems random or unbelievable at times, which was slightly distasteful.

Overall, the love story was basic but sweet, sending the message that distance can have a strong effect on a relationship, but love is always stronger - if you choose it to be.

Cast

Lana Condor - Lara-Jean

Noah Centineo - Peter