Photo by Thibault Penin on Unsplash
By Dakota Hornak, Contributing Writer
Released to Netflix on Feb. 12, “To All the Boys I Loved Before: Always and Forever” wraps up the story of Lara Jean and Peter in the final film of the trilogy. Starting in their senior year, the audience watches the two soon-to-be college students make discoveries that change their plans for the future.
After receiving a rejection from Stanford, Lara Jean finds her way onto New York University’s campus and proceeds to fall in love with the city. Peter, accepted to Stanford University and mentally prepared for his girlfriend to go to UC Berkeley, only an hour from his own campus, spends the film wrestling with his family problems and figuring out if he can really handle loving someone across the country if Lara Jean did pick NYU.
This specific film in the collection resonated with me personally and can do the same with many high school and college students alike. When preparing for a new chapter in our lives, we often face losing people and places we love more than anything: childhood best friends, family homes, significant others.
The movie also centers on feeling the need to choose between things at this stage in life. It’s common that young adults are expected to always plan for things we can’t control, and it often leads us to feel a pull between what others want of us and what we want for ourselves and our futures.
“To All the Boys I Loved Before: Always and Forever” highlights the types of fears we all go through when moving forward. The comedic relief is much needed and makes the movie even more enjoyable. In addition, the style of the film leaves audiences pleased aesthetically and compliments the editing and director’s vision.
It is the perfect film for nights in, alone or with loved ones. Between the jokes, the drama and the emotional tug on your heartstrings, it is a perfect treat for a month like this. I highly recommend heading to Netflix and streaming “To All the Boys I Loved Before: Always and Forever” (or even all three) during your next movie night.