When I sat down to watch Always Be My Maybe I thought this will be good, a romantic comedy written by well-regarded female comedy star, both leads are Asians so there is a new slant on an old formula.
I was wrong, aside from the lack of real chemistry between Wong and Randall what I saw is a romantic comedy that I have seen so many times before.
There are clearly big cultural references for American Asians in the film which whilst I have no handle on I’m not unaware enough to spot. The film could have been sharp and inciteful but instead was all too familiar, undercooked and sentimentally soft, like so many romantic comedies out there.
I wanted so desperately to really enjoy this film and I did laugh at moments during the runtime, so my virtual signalling and SJW credentials are prevalent but in the end I felt flat and disappointed for the run time. The whole film had a feeling of boilerplate. Proper vanilla-flavoured boilerplate.
There’s a particular scene that brought up some quick social media memes and got a lot of attention as soon as the film gained an audience when dear old Keanu Reeves popped up but in all honesty, it was a weird section of the film shoe-horned in and mostly was not that funny. The early restaurant part did get me chuckling but also I felt a bit uncomfortable, you cannot help feeling that a lot of participants in the movie probably go to establishments that serve that type of cuisine.
Always Be My Maybe felt like an extension of Fresh off the Boat and when it was pitched to Netflix it was an easy harmless option. Safe, tepid, nothing new to add to the genre and ultimately boring. But it did add another great film to the film-dud pantheon.
He's my unsolicited advice Netflix, use great comedic talent properly, be a bit daring, it’s not like you are losing money is it?
This was a pleasant surprise for me, having heard some positive buzz online and then finding myself with a couple of free hours I thought I’d check it out. My expectations were fairly low given how played out the romantic comedy genre has gotten by this point but I have to say that even though I am not a big fan of the genre I have to give a recommendation for this one.
Ali Wong and Randall Park are both very funny people in their own right and they bring their A game to this film. Both of the two main stars have writing credits and so the film can at points feel like a vessel to showcase their talents as comedians. This can be a positive or a negative depending on your existing opinions about the work of the two leads, for me this was absolutely a good thing with he pair firing on all cylinders throughout.
Another thing this film has going for it is an attention to detail that is rarely seen from movies of this nature. The bay-area setting is used to full advantage and impacts on how the characters interact with each other and the situations they find themselves in. For example this film uses the trope of the failing musician, other than having the character’s band sound like a generic rom-com soft rock band they build of the hip-hop style soundtrack. The three original songs performed by the fictional band feel as though they would fit perfectly within the Bay Area sound and I instantly added them all to my party playlist.
As far as the story goes it is incredibly generic, while this is a fresh feeling film, it isn’t exactly breaking new ground with any plot details. If you are tired of the rom-com formula then maybe this could be an issue for you but personally I think that this has enough good jokes and heart to keep you engaged.
Don’t watch the trailers if you are planning on checking this out as they spoil the best part of the movie and the revel works so much better if you don’t see it coming.
I think this is a really entertaining Rom-Com showcasing the talents of its two leads. If it sounds like your thing give it a shot.
Review by ShayBlockedParent2019-06-01T05:49:59Z
I would have to say it’s not one of my top movies despite how pleasant it was to watch. Now that’s not to say that it’s bad, quite the contrary. This is just a movie I would file under “what I’d watch if I wanted to see a nice, cute film in my free time.”
It is as the summary states; two childhood friends fall in love with each other.
Pros...
- None is the movie felt forced, even during the comedic moments.
- It was paced very nicely.
- The comedic moments were actually funny. They did have me laughing because they were well written. (This depends however on what you find funny. Me, I laugh at generally anything, so don’t take my word for it xD)
- The characters, in personality as well as how they deal with situations, are relatable.
- This film has some surprises for you. I won’t ruin them but there are some. And if no one told you, there is a certain actor who makes their entrance halfway through the movie so look out.
- Since this is a cutesy type of film, there is little to no drama. It’s nice being for how the film is, and it made the supporting cast all the more better in my opinion. I love Veronica and Mr. Kim by the way xD.
- The ending. It was truly emotional because it finishes the movie on a good note. It also gave the movie a nice finishing touch without just leaving everything off like that.
Cons....
- If you’re looking for this movie to change your life, no. That’s not going to happen.
- Some of the parts were predictable.
- As I said, the movie is exactly what the summary says. There’s no real underlying plot that will make this movie beer into a different direction.
:asterisk_symbol::asterisk_symbol: (This wasn’t actually a con for me, but I’m listing it in case someone thinks the movie may be more than what it is.) :asterisk_symbol::asterisk_symbol:
- I wish I would have been advised that there would be some swearing, or someone’s butt was going to be shown xD.
Edit: So I got called out for being potentially narrowed mind because of this con, and they had every right to so I’m not going to bash the person. However I will say that I personally don’t mind any swearing, nudity, etc. But my grandmother lives with me and she on the other hand is not that accepting xD. So I listed this as a con in case anyone has children, grandparents, or anyone else that you don’t want to hear or see that just in case.