People We Meet On Vacation: Entertaining Netflix Rom-Com

For the past couple of years, finding a good rom-com hasn't been easy.  (The only one I can think of that I liked a lot is "Hitman.")  "People We Meet On Vacation," a Netflix film, has a 73% Rotten Tomatoes audience score.  It's amusing throughout, and a few scenes are hilarious.  The film is based on the romance novel of the same name by Emily Henry (2021). Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth) meet in college when Tom gives Poppy a ride on a school break to their hometown, Linfield, OH.  Much like the iconic rom-com "When Harry Met Sally" (or the less well-known, but also terrific "The Sure Thing"), they start out "driving" each other nuts, but that changes over their trip, and they wind up friends.  (Both films were directed by the recently tragically-murdered Rob Reiner).  After college, they decide that, at least until they are married, they will spend a one-week vacation together each year.  Poppy is a travel writer and has her dream job of traveling to exotic places and staying at luxury hotels.  However, she is away most of the time, which makes it very difficult for her to have a relationship.  Furthermore, she is getting bored with this job and is looking for another gig.  Tom still lives and works in Linfield. The film begins with Poppy being asked by Tom's brother whether she is coming to his destination wedding in Barcelona, which is happening in few days.  She is hesitant to go, since Tom will be there.  Two years prior to this wedding, they had a blow-up and haven't seen each other since then.  Poppy is ambivalent about what she wants with Tom – to continue their friendship or convert it into a romantic relationship.  She doesn't know what Tom wants now, or even whether he even hopes to see her there. The film then travels back in time, showing about six prior vacations, from the earliest to the most recent one, which was two years prior to the present.  Some vacations are more interesting and funnier than others, but none of them are slow or boring.  (Actually, some locations, like Istanbul, looked so nice that I put them on my vacation list!)  The two stars are very attractive and likable, and their characters are fleshed-out fairly well.  The movie is predictable, but there are some unexpected developments along the way.  If you're looking for a free rom-com on TV, this is one worth watching.  If you're going on vacation soon, and the hotel or AirB&B has Netflix access, you can even watch it with your significant other while on vacation!