#film: to all the boys i've loved before

[icedsodapop]

[pocfiction]

Lana Condor as Lara Jean in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) dir. Susan Johnson

[to-all-the-boys]

'to all the boys i've loved before' is absolute perfection. i can't believe i'm saying this but oh my gosh i forgot just quite how good it is. my sister just put it on and of course i insisted i rewatch it with her and wow. the colour grading, the direction, the palpable chemistry between the leads, and sweetness and innocent joy that permeates the film...oh that movie is absolutely everything to me. all time banger

[beatx-mavie-archangelx]

there should've been at least a full view of Fíli's body in the funeral scene

"Fíli you didn't deserve any of this" we all say in unison

[serendipity-in-love]

To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020)

[tulip-in-a-cup3]

Is the Romantic comedy is still relevant?

Like many, I have spent countless endless hours watching romantic comedies. At one point they were the only sort of film I consumed (a very dark period) and also one of the many sparks of my love of film. But as I grew, changed and discovered all sorts of different films I next to completely forgot all about rom-coms only really revisiting them when I feel the need to turn my brain off and watch pretty people do things on screen. But now when I do turn one on I can't help but but notice how painfully sexist and unproductive they can be.

The romantic comedy is a very popular offshoot of the classic comedy genre. Rom-coms have been around since the time of Shakespeare's A Midsummer's night dream. The romantic comedy focuses on the romantic relationship between two characters. The movie usually follows a fairly basic structure with the characters meeting, falling for each other, facing some sort of adversity, and ultimately having a happy ending with them together. That's not to say some don’t break out of this with 500 days of summer being a perfect example. This genre of film became increasingly popular particularly among women because it was one of the only times that women were at the forefront of a movie. They were also easy, quick, and incredibly cheap to make. Allowing them to make massive profits when it came to the box office. Although romcoms did see a significant decline during the late 2000s and early 2010s we have seen a steady increase in them since the rise of streaming platforms producing their movies. On these streaming platforms, romantic comedies have managed to find an audience but that poses the question: are romantic comedies still relevant today?

Most romantic comedies tend to all have main characters that are white, cis-gendered, heterosexual, skinny, and Neurotypical. The rom-con never really showed the range and forms love could take. Rom-coms also sprinkled in this lovely layer of misogynistic undertones. Films like How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days depict women as “emotional, irrational and clingy” and that all these behaviours do is drive a man away, men of course being the complete opposite of these behaviours. Bride wars also show women in questionable ways with the leads completely turning on each other simply because of a wedding venue. Reinforcing the stereotype that marriage is a woman’s number one endgame. Even my personal favourite Bridget Jones isn’t immune to the problems laced throughout rom-coms. Bridget acted like her very healthy 136lb made her disgustingly fat or the fact she felt her whole life was a failure due to her being SINGLE of all things. There are many more examples I don't wish to get into that show how Rom-coms treat women. But does this mean we need to throw them in the bin completely?

No of course not it was an unproductive question in the first place. rom-coms can be misogynistic, but they are also changing take for example movies like To All The Boys I've Loved Before which has an asian american protagonist or Crush on Disney Plus which has a lesbian lead and follows multiple lgbtq characters (although it did get next zero marketing and only me and like three other people know it about subject for another day). The rom-com is not the same anymore just like how the landscape of film has changed. People are demanding representation and slowly we are receiving it. The rom-com is also one of the only genres that is dominated by women and tearing it down and ripping into does in some regard play into the demonization of all things enjoyed by women. Rom-coms are still relevant because love is still relevant. We just need to see it done in a way that reflects the variety of love we have and doesn't reinforce outdated stereotypes about women OR men. Rom-coms bring a lot of joy and fun that cinema needs and branding them as not relevant is moving backwards.

[overthinking-snail]

randomly remembered to all the boys existed and rewatched it, forgot how fucking good it is

[myheartwentknocknock]

"Not to be afraid to love and love again. And to love again and again. Because that's so important. Also don't be afraid to show people who you really are because chances are people are actually going to really like it. That's what I hope people take away from it and that would be my greatest delight if they do." - Lessons learned from To All The Boys I've Loved Before, Lana Condor

[adaptations-polls]

[heartsforlanadelrey]

I will never get over this movie. 💌

[brenninthetaylorverse]

currently watching to all the boys i've loved before!

so here's a little photo dump thing lol

[poppletonink]

Review: To All The Boys I've Loved Before

★★★★★ - 5 stars

"My life was a mess but I could clean my room."

To All The Boys I've Loved Before is a teen rom-com with a very important message: never write love letters you don't intend to send.

It tells the story of Lara Jean Covey: the love-obsessed teenager that exists within every rom-com lover, an introvert with a sole friend and an undeniable addiction to The Golden Girls. Lara Jean has had five crushes, all of whom have a letter addressed to them tucked away in a turquoise box - letters she never intended to send. Somehow, the letters are out and Lara Jean finds herself in a romance drama of her own making, and in a fake relationship with one of the most popular boys in school: Peter Kavinsky...

Despite what could be argued as the overuse of the fake dating trope within romantic fiction circles, To All The Boys is a prime example of why this trope still stands, through Jenny Han's exquisite development of the relationship between Peter and Lara Jean. Through the outstanding acting of Lana Condor and Noah Centino, this film is a perfect depiction of the conflicting nightmare of teenage crushes and the heartwarming feelings associated with first love.

Even with romance as the focus of the film, the friendships that are developed throughout are just as beautiful and meaningful. Whether it's the unlikely friendship between Chris and Lara Jean or the sibling-like bond between Peter and Kitty, the audience sees a type of love that breaks expectations and creates hilarious moments. To All The Boys I've Loved Before shows that relationships hold an importance within life no matter what form they are in, something that isn't seen enough in rom-coms.

Funny and well-written, with relatable characters and a swoonworthy love story, To All The Boys I've Loved Before is a must watch for every hopeless romantic out there.

[ontheidiotbox]

[serendipity-in-love]

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)

[jaeshoney]

lowkey feelin bad for josh. he lost two important people in his life.

[bluboi-365]

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before XO, Kitty