Film Review: 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before'

- Starring: Lana Condor (Jubilee in X-Men), Noah Centineo - Runtime: 99 minutes - Rotten Tomatoes: 95%; Metacritic: 62

"TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE", based on the bestseller of the same name by Jenny Han, tells the story of Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor), your average teenage protagonist who happens to be in love with her sister's boyfriend. Lara Jean writes unsent letters to the boys she have loved, and when the letters are leaked, she draws up a contract with high school jock, Peter, to be in a relationship. Hilarity ensues.

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Firstly, I would just like to say that I appreciate Netflix's approach to their filmmakers. By being given full creative control, director Susan Johnson has made a subtly stylish, often amusing and always charming film that, while still adheres to the typical rom-com formula, is still highly enjoyable.

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The positives are abundant: - The cast: Aside from the obvious praise for Netflix's insistence on maintaining a diverse cast, true to its source and completely unaffected by financial demands, this is a well-cast film. Lana Condor anchors the film with charm to spare, portraying "Lara Jean" with believable chemistry with co-star Noah Centineo's "Peter". A genuinely sweet performance, Condor successfully avoided the "schmaltz protagonist" and fleshed out her character enough for the audience to be on her side throughout. Noah Centineo as Peter is also energetic throughout the film, always in full support and is able to rise above the average romantic interest thanks to his offbeat, quiet screen presence.

- The direction: Wringing so much more than what was needed from a rom-com, director Susan Johnson crafted a slick, often stylish film with creative scene selections and an eye-catching color palette. While some shots and editing choices are questionable, Johnson has established herself as a rising talent.

- The script: Sofia Alvarez's script though lacking in surprises, made up for it in spades. The script, armored with witty dialogue and a quivering heart, will have the audience in constant stitches with the banter between Peter and Lara Jean, as well as aptly balancing humor and heart.

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I have all but one drawback with the film, and that is its lack of risk. This is a very undemanding film, one that you can pop in on a lazy weekend, watch and completely forget about. Made for pop culture irrelevance, it is perfectly fine. But its cultural significance, of a film starring a Vietnamese-born actress and of a well established ethnic family in America, should have been greater.

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Overall: B A few surprises or subversion would have been appreciated, but all in all, this is a perfectly enjoyable rom-com available on Netflix, and you should definitely check it out.