I watched this movie on a cold Boston day. I had some time between my classes to relax, so I figured, why not watch it. I had already watched the first two movies in the series, so I had to watch the third one. But most movie series get progressively worse as they go on.
I, along with the rest of the world, had a huge crush on Noah Centineo when the first movie came out on Netflix, but he just doesn’t have the appeal anymore. The storyline was cute, but of course, in a cheesy way.
I tend to love movies that take place in high school because I can reminisce on my high school days and recount how they were most definitely not how romantic comedies make them out to be. Yes, there were groups, but not the way movies portray them to be. Yes, there was the captain of some sports team, but he wasn’t that cute. It was just plain old high school. I had my wonderful friends, went to class and made the most of my high school experience.
Romantic comedies set you up to expect a crazy, wonderful love that sweeps you off your feet. Then you get to high school and wonder: where is my prince charming?
So back to the movie. It takes you through stressful college acceptances and rejections, a trip to New York City and the senior prom. It covers all the bases for a cheesy and cute romantic comedy.
I normally really like cheesy romantic movies, but I felt this one had the same plotline as the previous two movies and most romantic movies in general. The guy and the girl are pulled apart by someone or something, but in the end, they realize they love each other and want to be together.
The movie dives into a relationship where the couple wants to stay together in college, showing their thought processes as they base their college decisions on where the other person is going to be. I found this super relatable because many couples face the same struggles preparing to go to college.
Peter Kavinsky, played by Centineo, is going to Stanford University, and Lara Jean Covey, played by Lana Condor, chooses New York University rather than staying in California to be near her boyfriend. She obviously made the right decision. I feel like it’s so easy to put everyone before yourself, which Lara Jean demonstrates when she initially ignores her love of New York in fear of losing her boyfriend.
This is a lesson to everyone ignoring what they truly want and basing their lives on other people. You need to do what makes you happy, so one day when you look back on your life, you won’t be filled with regret.
