Director: Susan Johnson

When working within a genre, the target for a film generally seems to be “the same…but different.” I always take that to mean that while a film may seem familiar and comfortable, there’s a newness to it that makes us feel as though we’re watching that particular kind of film for the first time. I think Susan Johnson’s film To All the Boys I’ve loved Before gets it just right. A Netflix original, there’s nothing here that breaks new ground. Change the clothing and slang and this could be an ‘80s John Hughes film. (Sixteen Candles is even referenced in the film.) Yet it’s a heartwarming film that succeeds in spite of its devotion to the genre, rather than because of it.

The film works so well thanks to a couple of endearing performances by Lana Condor as Lara Jean and Noah Centineo as Peter. There’s plenty of chemistry between the two of them, so it’s not hard to believe they would fall for one another when they’re together, but even when evaluating the characters singly, they’re likeable and believable. The film hangs on their shoulders, and they manage the weight really well.

The film’s plot hits all the right, familiar notes. Imagine if you wrote love letters, never to be sent, to all the crushes of your life. Not that unusual, right? Now imagine those letters got mailed to the recipients. If you’re a shy high-school student, like Lara Jean is, you’re mortified. The only way out might be to create a fake relationship with Peter, one of the recipients of a letter, but one that doesn’t really mean much to Lara Jean. After all, Peter was just one kiss when she was younger, during a game of Spin the Bottle. That takes the focus off all the other letters, especially the one she really regrets—the one to her sister’s (recently-ex) boyfriend, Josh. It’s so crazy, it just might work!

It’s a sweet film, and unlike a lot of teen romantic comedies, there isn’t really a villain. Even the girl we’re supposed to hate just ends up seeming a little sad. Don’t be afraid to watch this, thinking it’s a “kid’s movie.” It is, I guess, but the themes are universal. I think all of us can identify with the characters presented here. IMDb writes this down as a 7.2, and I have no quarrel with that. Check it out when you have a quiet night in and just want to feel good about a film. (running time 1:39)