Film Review: Always Be My Maybe Is The RomCom of The Year
I have to say Netflix is outdoing itself with its releases, which explains why it has decided to show Always Be My Maybe (ABMM) in cinemas, as well. The streaming giant gives masses of people the opportunity to see quality, original films that, frankly, can better than the ones in theaters. ABMM fits into this truth. Written and starring Randall Park and Ali Wong, this rom-com feels like a modernized take on the classic genre; making you laugh and feel giddy at the prospect of two people falling for each other, but recognizing that, first, they have to grow up.
Part of why we love rom-coms is that they make love feel glorious and uncomplicated; with the biggest hurdle being resolved in 15 minutes and ending with a wedding. Always Be My Maybe is the story of two childhood friends that, in reuniting, realize they are and have always been in love with each other. If that is not a romantic comedy premise, then I do not know what is! Yet, Director Nahnatchka Khan uses Always Be My Maybe to approach a very real dating fact; sometimes, the person we love needs to grow up before he or she can love us back properly.
Always Be My Maybe | Trailer | Netflix
Randall Park plays Marcus, and embodies every man stuck on potential. Ali Wong plays Sasha and embodies every powerful woman that fell for a “potential.” Marcus is sweet, thoughtful, and funny. Since they were 9 years old, he has always had Sasha’s back, of which loyalty and friendship is vital to a good, strong relationship. Yet, courage is also necessary. While Always Be My Maybe is picking up notice foe being one more major, fantastic film that brings diversity/ Asian- Americans as its leads, it also brings freshness and nuance, by making “the woman” the catch. Ali Wong’s Sasha Tran is fierce, smart, determined, and, despite her love for Marcus, unwilling to settle fro anyone that is not willing to rise with her. POWERFUL AND EMPOWERING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ali Wong and Randall Park are phenomenal because they base the chemistry between their characters in heart. These are two good people that need to be better; Ali in remembering what is home and Marcus in learning how to leave his. Yet, with characters like Marcus’ dad, James Saito as the sweet Harry and Michelle Buteau as the hilarious Veronica, their growth is inevitable. Still, it is Keanu Reeves’ role that really turns their lives around and gives this film show-stopping laughs. Always Be My Maybe is not only modern and funny, it is memorable and, in Netflix fashion, completely re-watchable. Always Be My Maybe comes out in salect theater on May 29 and on Netflix on May 31.
