Feb. 13, 2026
By Kenzy Mahmoud
Staff Writer
In the intriguing but underwhelming film “People We Meet on Vacation,” a carpool ride home to Linfield, Ohio, sparks a lasting friendship between two polar-opposite college students, Poppy Wright (Emily Bader) and Alex Nilsen (Tom Blyth).
After seven years of annual summer vacations around the world, depicted through a series of flashbacks, a falling-out causes the pair to go their separate ways. However, when Alex’s younger brother David (Miles Heizer) invites them to his wedding in Barcelona, Spain, their radio silence ends, as Poppy jumps at the opportunity to reconnect with her best friend.
Poppy’s internal conflict is one of the strongest aspects of the movie. Afraid to be honest about her feelings for Alex, she bottles them up, fearing she will lose their friendship.
This romantic comedy, based on the 2021 best-selling novel by Emily Henry, shows promise, but the 1-hour, 57-minute movie ultimately falls short due to its sluggish pace. For instance, when Poppy and Alex end up camping in Squamish, Canada, too much time is devoted to mood and character development, but little happens in the plot.
Still, the film is not without merit. Poppy’s internal conflict is one of the strongest aspects of the movie. Afraid to be honest about her feelings for Alex, she bottles them up, fearing she will lose their friendship. This vulnerability keeps the storyline interesting, but her prolonged hesitation becomes frustrating to watch.
The dialogue is also genuine and relatable. Poppy and Alex act like real people, not perfect romantic characters. They share inside jokes, quiet moments and unforgettable memories. While their conversations generally flow naturally, some of their interactions are drawn out, such as the flashback to their initial road trip when they get stranded in Green Springs, Pennsylvania, and have to share a motel room.
The cinematography is another highlight of the film. During Poppy and Alex’s travels to Canada, New Orleans, Italy and Spain, the warm lighting radiates joy and positivity, mirroring the connection between the pair.
The movie communicates the hopeful message that love can blossom from friendship. It could have conveyed that growing in different directions does not necessarily mean growing apart, or that comfort can be just as meaningful as excitement. However, the film does little to uniquely advance the fairly cliché theme.
Overall, fans who enjoy pleasant scenery and slow-burning love stories will appreciate “People We Meet on Vacation,” but those who prefer out-of-the-ordinary, fast-paced films would do best to skip this mediocre movie.
