Saagar Kote
Based on Emily Henry’s eponymous novel, ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ is the tale of Poppy Wright (Emily Bader) and Alex Nilsen (Tom Blyth), two good friends with contrasting personalities. Poppy is an extrovert, willing to travel to other places, and Alex likes peace and calm. Despite a strong bond, the two don’t go beyond the realm of friendship. They make a pact to spend time with each other every summer, no matter where they are. The two friends keep up this pact and have adventures in different countries. However, when they start dating others, and romantic feelings enter the equation, the very basis of their friendship is threatened.
Poppy and Alex find it difficult to come to terms with their feelings of love for each other, while also worrying about their futures. Helmed by Brett Haley, Netflix’s romcom is a visually stunning and emotionally deep portrayal of a unique bond. In this list, we bring you films like ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ that capture the essence of love, friendship, and everything in between.
12. Best Friends (1982)
Directed by Norman Jewison, ‘Best Friends’ centers on screenwriting partners Richard Babson (Burt Reynolds) and Paula McCullen (Goldie Hawn), who are best friends and lovers living together in Hollywood. Their relationship is tested when Richard proposes marriage, which makes Paula uncomfortable at first. She agrees to the proposal on the condition that they first go on a honeymoon across the country. The journey is intended to take them to New York for Paula’s parents’ anniversary, and then to Virginia, to visit Richard’s parents.
Already under pressure from their producer, Larry Weisman, the trip intensifies the strain on their partnership. Surrounded by scrutiny and witnessing their parents’ respective marriages, Richard and Paula are forced to confront and examine the future of their own marriage and professional collaboration. The romantic comedy film captures the nuances of ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ through its vivid depiction of the convergence of friendship and romance between two independent thinkers.
11. A Woman as a Friend (2014)
‘A Woman as a Friend’ or ‘Una donna per amica’ explores the complex relationship between lawyer Francesco De Biase (Fabio De Luigi) and veterinarian Claudia Casamacchia (Laetitia Casta), two close friends who have been in each other’s lives for a while. Their bond is tested when a handsome man named Giovanni (Adriano Giannini) enters the picture. Claudia’s sudden decision to marry Giovanni forces Francis to confront the reality that the dynamic between a man and a woman who are friends is far less simple than he once believed. As Francesco deals with these thoughts, Claudia faces her own trials and tribulations in the marriage.
With the dynamic in their bond totally changed, Francesco and Claudia must come to terms with certain feelings deep within themselves. Directed by Giovanni Veronesi, the Italian romantic comedy film is a layered reflection of the themes handled in ‘People We Meet on Vacation’. Both stories deal with the essence of male-female friendship, the possibility of romance, and the cost of hiding feelings.
10. Drinking Buddies (2013)
Helmed by Joe Swanberg, ‘Drinking Buddies’ navigates the experiences of Kate (Olivia Wilde), who works for a brewery in Chicago. Her life centers around her boyfriend, Chris, and her best friend and coworker, Luke (Jake Johnson). Kate has a happy life, and Luke lives with his girlfriend, Jill. A weekend retreat to Chris’s lake house alters the dynamics between the two friends as Chris and Jill develop a closer bond, and Kate and Luke spend most of their time together. Upon their return to the city, Chris ends his relationship with Kate, who has casual sex with her colleague, Dave.
When Luke becomes aware of the situation, he becomes emotionally affected and starts questioning his own feelings towards Kate. In the comedy-drama film, as the two friends now face a very different life and a much more complex emotional equation, they must strive to understand their own feelings. On the lines of ‘People We Meet on Vacation,’ the movie is a complex story of friends developing romantic feelings, which threatens the very meaning of their friendship.
9. Love Forecast (2015)
‘Love Forecast’ or ‘Oneului yeonae’ is a Korean romcom that reveals the adventures of weather reporter Kim Hyeon-woo (Moon Chae-won) and her friend Kang Joon-soo (Lee Seung-gi). They have been close friends for eighteen years and enjoy each other’s company. Kang begins to realize that the two of them are probably destined to be more than just friends. However, Kim only sees him as a friend and explicitly tells him that she doesn’t feel romantically attracted to him.
Despite this complex equation, Kang still hopes to win her over eventually. However, when Kim starts considering other men, Kang must do everything in his power to convince her that he is perfect for her. Park Jin-pyo’s directorial complements the characters and themes of ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ through its focus on friendship, love, hidden feelings, misunderstandings, and chaotic moments.
8. What If (2013)
‘What If’ or ‘The F Word’ revolves around the friendship between Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) and Chantry (Zoe Kazan). They initially meet at a party and develop a connection, but decide to stay friends since Chantry already has a boyfriend. As their friendship deepens, they become involved in each other’s social circles, often supporting one another. However, Wallace starts to fall for Chantry romantically and finds it difficult to hide these feelings. As he struggles to maintain this emotional puzzle, he must also deal with the possibility that his love may always be one-sided.
What follows in the romantic comedy movie is a chaotic ride where the two friends get closer and drift apart simultaneously, while love may have its own plans. Directed by Michael Dowse, the confusing experiences of Wallace and Zoe in the film deeply resemble the chaotic journey of Poppy and Alex in ‘People We Meet on Vacation.’
7. Your Place or Mine (2023)
Netflix’s ‘Your Place or Mine’ explores the friendship between LA woman Debbie Dunn (Reese Witherspoon) and Peter Coleman (Ashton Kutcher), who lives in NYC. Directed by Aline Brosh McKenna, the narrative follows Peter, who moves to LA for a week to care for Debbie’s son, Jack, while she heads to NYC to focus on her career goals. As they temporarily swap cities, both characters experience significant personal shifts. Peter comes to realize the romantic feelings he has always harbored for Debbie, just as she begins a new relationship.
With distance separating them, Peter faces the challenge of pursuing his romantic interests, knowing that doing so could jeopardize the foundation of their friendship, which has been there for nearly two decades. The emotional depth of Debbie and Peter’s connection in the romcom is complementary to the connection between Poppy and Alex in ‘People We Meet on Vacation.’ The stories intricately weave together elements of friendship and loyalty, while also dealing with the complications of romance.
6. Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Netflix’s ‘Always Be My Maybe’ centers on popular chef Sasha Tran (Ali Wong), who is engaged to Brandon Choi. In the Bay Area, during a food event, she runs into Marcus Kim (Randall Park), a friend she was once close to. The accidental reunion leads to romantic complications as they start to rethink the nature of their friendship, given that they had shared an intimate moment in the past. As friendship and romance converge, they have to figure out how to deal with the complexities of their feelings. Helmed by Nahnatchka Khan, the romantic comedy film explores deep conversations, arguments, and heartwarming moments between Marcus and Sasha, in ways similar to Alex and Poppy’s adventures in ‘People We Meet on Vacation.’
5. Plus One (2019)
‘Plus One’ follows college friends Ben King (Jack Quaid) and Alice Mori (Maya Erskine) as they reunite at a mutual friend’s wedding after a long time. Both dread the approaching wedding season, as more people in their social circles get married. Alice is single and needs a date for the upcoming weddings, while Ben is waiting for his perfect match. They agree to be each other’s plus-one for every wedding. Initially, this plan works wonders, as both parties get what they want, without the complications of love.
However, when they start to rethink their feelings for each other, it leads to difficult conversations and potential love. In the romantic comedy film, directed by Jeff Chan and Andrew Rhymer, the two buddies must decide if love is really worth sacrificing a friendship for. On the lines of ‘People We Meet on Vacation,’ the movie is a turbulent and meaningful commentary on male-female friendships, the possibility of love, and the play of destiny.
4. A Lot Like Love (2005)
In ‘A Lot Like Love,’ Oliver Martin (Ashton Kutcher) and Emily Friehl (Amanda Peet) become just friends after meeting on a flight, despite sharing sexual intimacy. For various reasons, they decide that they are not meant to be together. The romcom directed by Nigel Cole chronicles the many trials and tribulations between Oliver and Emily as they enter and exit each other’s lives over the next seven years. In this journey, they navigate the meaning of friendship while also addressing the problem of love. Their sexual adventures, awkward encounters, and career experiences play pivotal roles in defining their relationship.
Struggling to be just friends and afraid to become lovers, their bond unravels chaotically through shared moments of doubt and fun. Whether or not they can find the courage to pursue love depends on their views on life and the future. The film bears a resemblance to ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ due to its depiction of a complicated bond between two complex individuals. The elements of adventure and unpredictability, along with the visual styles, connect the stories on a spiritual level.
3. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
‘When Harry Met Sally…’ is the story of Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan), who cross paths by chance. They are both students at the University of Chicago, and ride together to NYC after their graduation. The romantic comedy-drama movie chronicles different stages in their lives as they go through the stages of friendship. The two keep running into each other over the years, strengthening and challenging their bond. They find it easy to share their mutual feelings without the fear of judgment.
As they become older, Harry and Sally find it difficult to contain their romantic feelings for each other anymore. But crossing the line of friendship could change their whole perspective on love. In the most difficult scenario in their lives, they must find the will to trust each other and give romance a chance. Directed by Rob Reiner, the film’s portrayal of male-female friendship, the element of loyalty, and the cost of hidden feelings connects it to the world and characters of ‘People We Meet on Vacation.’
2. One Day (2011)
Based on the eponymous novel by David Nicholls, ‘One Day’ depicts a layered and cerebral relationship between two complicated individuals. It navigates various moments in the lives of Dexter Mayhew (Jim Sturgess) and Emma Morley (Anne Hathaway), two people whose destinies are connected for nearly two decades. The romantic drama movie ranges from their initial connection in 1988, after which they go in and out of each other’s lives. One of the most unique points of their bond is the pact to meet each other on July 15, St. Swithun’s Day, every year.
The complex love story between the two unfolds through shifts in the narrative between the past and the present, where important decisions are made. As Dexter and Emma deal with their feelings, invisible forces of destiny may have their own role to play in the story. The Lone Scherfig directorial, akin to ‘People We Meet on Vacation,’ is a subtle and deeply meaningful painting of modern romance and friendship. The visuals, themes, character arcs, and plot dynamics related to destiny and luck connect the two movies on a greater level.
1. Love, Rosie (2014)
‘Love, Rosie’ narrates the happenings in the adventurous life of Rosie Dunne (Lily Collins). She goes through a difficult situation in her youth as she forges a bond with Alex Stewart (Sam Claflin). Their friendship is affected when Rosie gets the chance to go to the US to pursue higher education. Though romantic feelings exist between the two, they never acknowledge them. Destiny keeps bringing them into each other’s path over the course of many years, which come with their share of surprises and twists. Rosie must come to terms with the reality of being a single mother, and Alex should find the strength to admit difficult feelings. As distance, situations, and misunderstandings threaten to tear them apart, Alex and Rosie stand on the verge of isolation and meaning at the same time.
Based on the novel ‘Where Rainbows End’ by Cecelia Ahern, the romantic drama film helmed by Christian Ditter is a poignant tale of connection. The dramatic and subtle moments between Rosie and Alex closely reflect the romantic ups and downs in ‘People We Meet on Vacation.’ Both films are spiritually connected due to their exploration of the main characters’ adventures, confusion, and romantic entanglements in visually captivating ways.
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