In the third and final instalment of the Netflix original trilogy, this time we see Lara Jean and Peter set off for college, with LJ having to make some tough decisions not only in terms of her own future, but her relationship with Peter…
Director: Michael Fimognari
Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish
Running time: 115 minutes
We start off with Lara and her family in South Korea as they visit her mother’s birth country. Far away is her beloved boyfriend Peter Kavinsky, awaiting her arrival home. Both are now in their senior year and awaiting their confirmation letters from their future colleges.
It turns out that Lara Jean doesn’t get into Stanford, and has to break the news to Peter, who was hoping they would go together. She later finds out she got into her other option colleges – Berkeley and NYU. Berkeley is the best option for her relationship, but it is NYU she feels is best for her. But what will she choose? And will her deep love with Peter stand these tough decisions?
Just like the previous films, the romantic element – with reference to some romance classics – was there and as before, it made it sweet viewing. Particular film references that stuck out to me – that also stand out as some of my favourite scenes – is the mention of the 1989 romance starring John Cusack, Say Anything, where we saw Kavinsky stand outside LJ’s house with a boombox as he thought she had gotten into Stanford.
A well-rounded ending to the trilogy
The soundtrack has some standouts that would be easily recognisable to any viewer. For example, whilst at LJ’s fathers wedding, we see all three sisters dancing to Toploader’s Dancing in the Moonlight, as well as a bit of Oasis.
My favourite scene has to be when Peter is doing a voice over of his letter in Lara Jean’s yearbook – in the style of her letters from the start of the franchise. It brings all the feels back to why I love romance movies so much.
At times, however, it feels awkward between the pair we had fallen in love with on screen. For example, after prom and Peter drives LJ home, for some reason I could just feel the awkwardness and I didn’t like it. But then, there is an awkwardness you feel sometimes in relationships so in a way, it just portrayed a reality.
Ultimately, the third and final instalment of To All the Boys was a success in my eyes, and felt like a well-rounded ending to this romantic trilogy.
Did you know? Principal photography for the film began in Vancouver in July 2019, just two months after production wrapped on the second film.
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