To All The Boys I Loved Film Review

Sixteen Candles

Netflix has released the original film To All The Boys I Loved Before, based on the novel by the same named by Jenny Han, a Korean-American writer of children fiction. Knowing nothing of this before starting the film, the trailer was cleverly made to be considered either a children's fiction or a heavier teen drama/comedy. I do not know why I wanted the ladder. Probably because I am of the American Pie generation. Once I was twenty minutes into the film I was distracted by the campiness of the acting. That's when it hit me that this was going to be a light PG flick, safe for preteens to 17 young ladies. Of course my girlfriend likes it. The 80's references are on point. 

Fight Club

Some of the shocking and cool things about this for viewers of all ages. That one time the movie Fight Club was referenced. Then the film took a weird "Tyler Durden" moment when King Bach showed up. I'm glad the brother is working but why would he want to be in this film? It was just really jarring to see him pop up in this type of comedy. I guess for the most part you want to make sure that the target audience (teen) have the attention spans of a gnat. Mostly teen girls who are casually watching the movie on their Xbox or P24 Netflix app, while simultaneously on Snap Chat. PUT DOWN YOUR FREAKING PHONE and pick a device!!!

No Snitching

Seeing grown ups playing 16 and 17 year olds is always funny to me. Look, legally, you can't have minors in sex scenes less, your some type of edgy director that won't mind the blow back from parents. People know that teens do this and worse but they don't want to be reminded, while their being made to watch it in movies. If that makes sense. Putting adults in the film to portray teens makes it a little easier but in a weird double edge sword kind of way because you can totally go the American Pie route but you're still technically being faced with what kids really do when their parents aren't around. Audiences are weird. We want to be reminded but don't want to face the fact that our own children do the same things we did. Because it gets into the whole, who did worse territory. Gross. King Bach just showed up again in a high school cafeteria, saving off your beard doesn't make you 17.

Though the love Triangles or Squares or Pentagons, can lead anywhere but this is a very paint "Can't Buy Me Love" type film. The best parts of this film were already put on the trailer. The rubbers joke was the most misleading. Felt as though this was going to be a more raunchier flick, which it feels like it is trying to transition to in the third act of the film but the start of the film is too semented. I don't know if its mostly because of the writing or the direction of the film but the teasing of kid jokes to sex scapaids is not good for parents who want to shield some kids who may not be ready for these kinds of visuals and topics. At the same time, it a reminder to parents of what topics their kids are already dealing with. For the most part, it can ease parents and kids in a weird yet, slightly funny, conversation. Not about how badly this film is to a critic or how awesome it may be to a girl from ages 13 to 30 but about what goes on at parties, the importance of making the choice to have sex, popularity, and like "whatever". 

Over All

Not for me, Lana Condor did great job carrying the movie, she is worthy of being a teen idol for young ladies. I'm expecting more from her in the future. I see the potential in her in bigger roles. Her abilities as an actor in comedy, drama are extremely exceptional and believable which tells me that she will do well, given the right direction, in most genres. I look forward to seeing her again. The trailer not the only thing misleading in the film, the first 2 acts were so PG it was predestined for Nickelodeon then goes off to a wanna be explosion of hormones, which could be a metaphor but I doubt that much thought went into it. It was just jarring that this film was not consistent. King Bach saying "Sleep wherever you want slut" was just jaring from the way the film started. Maybe its just life, expect the unexpected at all times but I didn't expect a Diary of A Wimpy Kid to American Pie 2 when Stiffler's mom is ready to commit sexual assault of a minor. Oh my God, Stifler's mother is a rapist. 

Did Awkwafina Steal Her Acting Style From Natasha Lyonne

No you idiots, that was obviously click bait. This story isn't about pinning one actor against another. We won't be doing any trivial girl fights stuff around here. I'm just pointing out something I kind of noticed while watching Awkwafina at her finest. It can all just be in my head but its something I've been wanting to talk about.

I know very little about Awkwafina I've heard that she's in the hip hop game but I mostly know of her work on screen. First time I saw her portrayal character was in the Hulu original series future man and now she's playing in Ocean's 8 and crazy Rich Asians. She's a very funny actress her character is so far seem very similar but still uniquely original but for a while now there was something familiar about her acting style that I could not put my finger on. It took me a few times watching her work for me to finally pinpointed. I don't know if this is a little Prejudice or not but maybe being a minority this might buffer it a little bit so I will refrain from calling anyone and Asian version of another race or another race that racist version of her, if that makes sense. With that being said there is a similarity of her acting style that reminds me of Natasha Lyonne of Orange Is the New Black fame.

Now I have been watching Natasha work for many years her sarcasm is unmatched. but when I tell you that there is a unique similarity of how Awkwafina yourself sometimes I can close my eyes and I would swear to everything that I know in love that I'm listening to Natasha Leoni on film. Maybe it's just a coincidence or maybe Awkwafina was raised in the same sarcastic school as Natasha but the sarcasm is very strong with them and very similar. I could be out of line with the comparison but I can't help but notice the similarities. At the very least I feel that these two people draw from their true personalities when portraying any character on film and that these two young ladies would definitely get along.

The gamer character that she portrayed in Future Man reminded me a little bit of Natasha's character on American Pie. it's probably mostly to do with the graininess or tone and graveness in their voices. There are other similarities, both live in New York City, which could explain their takes on life and how they react. Natasha is 10 years Awkwafina’s senior. Natasha talks about being sexually assaulted coming up in Hollywood and Awkwafina is a heavy voice in the Times Up movement. Both of these women have a lot to contribute to the progression of women.

Though there backgrounds are completely different and there is very little connecting them, all film is subjective and I can not help but seeing so many similar traits. Maybe one day they will work together. I, being a fan of both, will be looking forward to seeing more come from both artist. Awkwafina has a long way to go in the business to accomplish half of what Natasha has done in the film business. I mean Natasha was apart of a huge franchise with American Pie, but if Crazy Rich Asians gets the trilogy treatment then there is another similarity checked off. Till then guess we’ll have to wait and see what other comparisons we can make.I will say that both of these ladies are like gravity pulling at our attention when they take the stage. 

Oh, one more, Awkwafina is a rapper and Natasha is dating Fred Armisen who plays music. I know that one was a stretch but its still something.