In past years, Netflix used to be heavily criticised for depicting raunchy rom-com movies filled with forced jokes. But with To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in 2018, Netflix redeemed itself with a new kind of teen rom-com movie that has a feel-good vibe and is free of any sleaziness.
The success of this film even prompted it to be developed into a trilogy that was positively criticised by the audience.
Recently, Netflix presented another teen rom-com adapted from the novel by the same name written by Jennifer E. Smith and with the same producer from To All the Boys, titled Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between, which tries to be better than the benchmark Netflix achieved, yet, feels like it’s out of luck this time.
This film primarily focuses on Aidan (Played by Jordan Fisher) and Clare (Played by Talia Ryder), who are senior high school students.
Clare lives with her single mother moving from one state to another and changing schools multiple times, while on the other hand, Aidan is an aspiring high school rockstar. They date each other but on one condition, breaking up when high school ends as Clare wants to keep a clean slate when she starts her new life at university.
When their high school ends, they decide to break up once and for all on the final day as per their deal. But as humans are not so rational, Aidan and Clare both feel like the relationship meant something they might want to hold on to.
This film depicts the uncertainty of human minds. When Aidan and Clare get into a relationship, they do it by giving it an expiration date. Though their breakup was logical, they grew attached. They decide to part ways for some time and might give themselves a chance to get together again. This shows a great deal of maturity in the relationship between Aidan and Clare.
The supporting characters are almost unattached in this film. Though they are supportive and always vouch for Aidan and Clare, except that, the audience never gets to know about their lives, which was present in the All the Boys trilogy.
Netflix uses the same formula of the trilogy in Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between. But they never seem to learn their lesson from failures.
Though the plot is slightly changed, it’s predictable from the beginning; even the trailer reveals most of the plot, making it look like spoilers. But if anyone wants to watch a feel-good rom-com movie to spend the weekend evening, it might be a good one.
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