People We Meet on Vacation Review: Free-spirited Poppy and conservative Alex, two people with opposite personalities, become best friends and travel buddies, and eventually question whether their bond should deepen into romance.
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People We Meet on Vacation Movie Cast
Emily Bader, Tom Blyth, Sarah Catherine Hook, Lucien Laviscount, Miles Heizer, Alan Ruck, Molly Shannon, Jameela Jamil, Tommy Do, Lukas Gage
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People We Meet on Vacation Netflix Director
Brett Haley
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People We Meet on Vacation 2026 Screenplay By
Yulin Kuang, Amos Vernon, Nunzio Randazzo
The film has a runtime of 117 minutes and is based on Emily Henry’s 2021 novel of the same name.
People We Meet on Vacation Review
This Netflix film is a warm watch whose friendly nature will leave anyone hooked. The plot focuses on these two people, Poppy especially, coming to terms with herself and her relationship with Alex, and although sometimes these beats feel familiar, it’s the fresh chemistry between the two that will give you butterflies. The feel-good vibes are sweet and heartwarming, and it takes you on a relatable journey through complicated feelings and emotional turbulence.
The non-linear storytelling of the film, following Poppy and Alex’s adventures and how they eventually turned into strangers, is sweet and entertaining, and, without the other problems that I will discuss below, I found myself quite attached to their journey in a way. The locations, set designs and costumes are great and will add to that charm as well.
That being said, if you’re looking for something completely fresh, this one’s not going to hit the spot. The film leans heavily on cliched moments, and the familiar beats feel overwhelmingly boring at this point. The friends-to-lovers trope might feel boring for some, and although safe, it feels unoriginal. Moreover, some of the characters aren’t developed that well, and although fun to watch, we don’t get deep enough into their lives to enjoy them.
The connection between Poppy and Alex feels safe and warm, but doesn’t go beyond that, which is a bit sad. You expect the romance to take you on a journey, but that’s not what happens here. It’s a bit unwhelming in that sense and leaves you wanting more. The heat you expect to generate falls flat, which I think is a missed opportunity for movies such as these.
Regardless, as I mentioned previously, People We Meet on Vacation is a comfort watch that doesn’t try to be anything more. You can tune in for the cosy feels and the wacky situations that these two get into on their journey of discovering themselves and each other, but that’s about it. Plus, the gorgeous settings help.
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I think Emily Bader and Tom Blyth make up for most of the missing charm in the story and make this as enjoyable as it ends up being. Both actors do a fine job with their roles, and despite lacking depth, I found myself enjoying their presence on the screen. There are some moments when their characters feel very one-dimensional, but, as a whole, they are entertaining. In the end, this is perfect to watch with friends and will be a crowd-pleaser, but it’s nothing special beyond that.
Final Thoughts
People We Meet on Vacation is an enjoyable watch if you’re in the mood for something light-hearted and fun. However, it doesn’t get to the depths of anything and only remains on the surface of everything. It has romance, scenic travel and likeable leads, but the missing emotional stakes can rub everyone the wrong way and not leave a mark in the end.
What are your thoughts on People We Meet on Vacation? Let us know in the comments below!
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