The Reel Review
Ali Wong and Randall Park (Long Shot, Ant-man And The Wasp) co-wrote and co-star in this Netflix rom-com about a couple of childhood friends who begin a romance 15 years after a night of passion ended their friendship. Despite their chemistry, their very different lifestyles present fresh challenges for their relationship.
Director Nahnatchka Khan (Fresh Off The Boat) keeps the sitcom-like pacing brisk and light, despite a story that surprisingly tackles such heady topics as depression over the death of a loved one and income disparity. While a lot of the jokes are corny, Wong and Park are fun to watch and keep the laughs flowing. Keanu Reeves is hilarious playing a douchebag version of himself.
The film’s frequent nods to Asian-American culture are fun, interesting and endearing, as is the feel good ending, that while predictable, is still a crowd pleaser.
REEL FACTS
• Ali Wong began performing while a member of UCLA’s largest and longest-running Asian-American theater company, co-founded years before by fellow student Randall Park.
• Keanu Reeves, who is part Asian-American and known to be one of the most down-to-earth, generous actors in Hollywood, filmed his scenes while also filming John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
• Susan Park and Randall Park (no relation), who play mother and son in Always Be My Maybe, also co-star in ABC’s TV series Fresh Off the Boat as sister and brother-in-law.
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