Lovely Planet Review: Bland Romance in a Stunning Setting

In Netflix’s latest romantic drama film Lovely Planet, a middle-aged novelist, Katherine (Laura Dern), heads to a writers’ retreat in Morocco to rekindle her creative spark, only to find romance with a much younger financier, Owen (Liam Hemsworth). With a star-studded cast, including Diana Silvers, Younès Boucif, Adriano Giannini, and Rachida Brakni, this film had all the makings of an epic vacation love story. But unfortunately, while the Moroccan backdrop shines, the romance at the centre of the film fizzles out into something as bland as it is forgettable.

-No Spoilers-

Lovely Planet Review

From the beginning, Lovely Planet wants to sell us on the allure of travel, not just as a vacation but as a transformative experience. Owen, ever the sceptic, dismisses this notion when he tells Katherine that travel doesn’t really change you; it just reveals who you already are. “You’re not new or exotic. You’re just you,” he says. Naturally, the film then spends its time proving him wrong, throwing Katherine and Owen into a whirlwind romance. But instead of delivering a gripping or emotionally charged love story, Lovely Planet serves up a lukewarm relationship between two mildly interesting people set against the backdrop of some very interesting scenery.

Let’s not beat around the bush: the Moroccan setting is Lovely Planet’s true saving grace. From the minute Katherine arrives at the retreat, we are treated to postcard-worthy shots of ornate luxury suites draped in colourful silks, majestic ancient ruins, and streets with walls painted in the most picturesque shades of blue. The kasbah, nestled deep in the hills, provides breathtaking panoramic views that make you want to book your own flight to Marrakech immediately.

Director Susannah Grant clearly wanted to transport the audience to this vibrant, exotic locale, and in that sense, she succeeded. But despite the stunning backdrop, the film’s central romance is its weakest point. Katherine, a successful yet uninspired novelist, is meant to be rediscovering herself through this new relationship, but the script gives her little to work with. Laura Dern tries her best to imbue Katherine with depth, but the character feels more like a generic placeholder than a fully developed person. We know next to nothing about her past, her writing, or what makes her tick, which makes it hard to care about her journey.

Liam Hemsworth’s Owen, on the other hand, is even less developed. His character is a mix of good looks and brooding stares, but beyond that, there’s not much substance. Owen’s motivations remain unclear, and the chemistry between him and Katherine is patchy at best. The age-gap romance between them is barely acknowledged in any meaningful way, which feels like a missed opportunity to explore something more interesting. Instead, their relationship feels superficial—a holiday fling rather than a love that’s meant to last.

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The supporting cast doesn’t fare much better. Diana Silvers’ Lily, Owen’s girlfriend and a bestselling author, is portrayed as an aloof and insufferable snob. The rest of the writers at the retreat are equally obnoxious, providing only mild comic relief and little else. This lack of compelling secondary characters leaves the film feeling oddly empty as if the only thing it has to offer is the scenery.

The story follows a predictable arc: Katherine and Owen meet, they flirt, and slowly their friendship turns into romance. But everything happens so formulaically that there’s no real excitement or tension to pull the audience in. Even when the film tries to inject drama, like when Owen’s relationship with Lily inevitably falls apart, it all feels too staged and uninspired.

Lovely Planet doesn’t just fail on the romantic front; it also misses the mark in exploring its characters’ internal struggles. Katherine’s writer’s block is the catalyst for the entire trip, but we never really get a sense of what’s driving her creative stagnation or what kind of work she produces. The movie treats her career as an afterthought, which undermines her journey of rediscovery.

Similarly, Owen’s life remains a mystery. We know he works in finance and has a troubled relationship with Lily, but the film never delves into his backstory or why he’s so disillusioned with his life. This lack of emotional depth makes it difficult to invest in either character’s personal growth, and by the end, it’s hard to care about their future together.

Lovely Planet Review: Final Thoughts

In a year where age-gap romances are popping up everywhere—from The Idea of You to A Family Affair—Lovely Planet feels like a missed opportunity to explore a compelling relationship dynamic in a beautiful setting. Instead, it offers a bland, half-baked romance between two underdeveloped characters, set against a backdrop that outshines them at every turn.

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