Always Be My Maybe. Nahnatchka Khan. 2019. ☆☆☆☆☆★
Hey, this looks cute. It’s about two friends growing up?
Wow, that’s a weird song choice. Young Americans (by David Bowie) in a horrible cover version? Didn’t want to pay for the rights or would it be too obvious that that’s a horrible choice of a song to play over a montage of two kids having fun at a fair?
Other than that weird scene, this is such a slick movie. It’s so professional: All the sets are perfect; the actors are just right for the characters; the lines zip as if they’ve been polished just the right amount of time; the cinematography is colourful and stylish.
Which sounds like I think this is a bit soulless? A bit too calculated? A bit too generated by a Netflix algo?
But no, I’m really enjoying this. It wouldn’t have worked without the charming actors, but it just meanders amiably, which I like. While it’s obvious what some of the beats in the movie are going to be, the plot isn’t completely predetermined.
It’s funny. And Keanu is hilarious playing a fictional version of himself.
(The jokes about high-end food are a bit tired and the pivot to “genuine” food is *eye roll*.)
After I started this Netflix blog project I’ve been asked several times (that is, three?) whether there’s any of the movies I’d just randomly recommend. My answer has been “no” until now. I loved Paris Is Us, but I know that nobody else did, and Polar was nihilistic fun, but, again, everybody else hated it. But I think this may be the first Netflix Original that I’d say “yeah, watch that”. It’s not a great movie, but it’s almost perfect for what it is.
Bring all your hankies.
This post is part of the NFLX2019 blog series.
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