Top 5 Reasons to Watch To All the Boys I've Loved Before

The movie is based on the young adult novel of the same name by prolific YA writer Jenny Han, which was optioned for a film soon after its 2014 release. It spent a whopping 40 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list and, as if that wasn’t impressive enough, it’s also a Goodreads favorite. It has over 200 thousand ratings and holds a very high 4.1 out of 5 stars. And if you watched the movie and were left wanting more, you’re in luck because Han has released two sequels: “P.S. I Still Love You” and “Always and Forever, Lara Jean”.

Romantic comedies aren’t always known for their artful cinematography (especially ones geared towards a younger audience) but it’s clear that no one was phoning it in on this one. The shots are all carefully chosen and arranged, and it’s clear the filmmakers took the time to plan every last beautiful frame that appears in the film. The distinctive aesthetic and color palette of the final product feel like a breath of fresh air in a teen-centric piece of media. You’ll have to watch it to see for yourself!

You might not recognize many members of this cast (save for “Sex and the City’s” John Corbett) but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. The film’s protagonist, Lara Jean, is played by Lana Condor, who has appeared in a couple of blockbuster films such as X-Men Apocalypse and Patriots Day, and is surely soon to become a household name. As for male lead Noah Centineo, the LA Times called him “the big beating heart at the center of the somewhat reserved” film, and for good reason. The young actor, who is best known for his portrayal of Jesus on The Fosters, shines as Lara Jean’s love interest, Peter.

To many, it may not seem like a huge deal that two of the most talked about releases of the season center on Asian women. But between “Crazy Rich Asians’” major box office performance and all the buzz surrounding “To All the Boys I've Loved Before”, it’s clear that standards for diverse representation are changing. Leading lady Lana Condor said of accepting her role, “My whole reason for doing this is so girls who look like me feel seen.”, highlighting an important issue in the landscape of film today. In a world populated by all different types of people, it’s refreshing to see some new perspectives being brought to the silver screen.

Movies geared towards younger people, especially romantic movies, don’t usually end up on critics’ radars and are often maligned for being fluffy or without substance. Not this movie though, which currently holds a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Linda Holmes of NPR said of the film that it is “precisely what it should be: pleasing and clever, comforting and fun and romantic.” While TV Guide declared that it “reminds us not just what we've been missing all these years, but also just how timeless teen movies and their coming-of-age stories can be.” Now that is some pretty high praise!