Movie #1733 ........................."Always Be My Maybe"

Movie #1733 "Always Be My Maybe" was recommended to me to see so four of us streamed it on netflix last night to watch it together.   Yesterday we were talking about Keanu Reeves and how funny he was in Toy Story 4, "and then this movie was mentioned as a "have to see" so that's why we ended up watching it.  It does have a funny 20 minutes or so starring Keanu Reeves playing himself, but the rest is pretty much one notch above a Hallmark film.  The notch up is because it is a tad better written over all.  And generally, it takes more chances than a Hallmark would.  But like many rom coms, the plot is easily guessed, but then it's sailing along and into the picture comes the Keanu Reeves character, like out of left field.  So I guess I liked that it took chances like that, and the characters are terribly honest and those lines are oftentimes funny, but the ending has a (to me) cringeworthy moment that occurs many times in rom coms --- the declaration of love ...in front of a crowd of people.  It rarely works for  me, no matter how well it is written --- whether it is over an intercom (like in American Sweetheart) or any other way --- I dislike this particular cliche moment, and don't believe it for one minute.  "Nottinghill" had the infamous press conference, but he just asked questions that hinted at the outcome, and "Maid in Manhattan" also had a press conference, but Fiennes made sure he was behind a locked door with her and her son to make his declaration.  In "Sweet Home Alabama" that was one exception for me because of the way Patrick Dempsey took the jilting at the altar moment, and then the film undercut the announcement by putting humor into it (with a punch in the jaw for Candice Bergen -- who wouldn't want to hit her at that point?!)  still the moment of declaration was between just the two of the lovers.... Those are just a couple of examples of rom coms that work for me and that I don't mind seeing over and over again.  But this film  was a one-time watch, and I don't need to say much more about it.  I'd give it 3.5, for  some silly moments, and  that declaration of love.  Otherwise, it is funny in a lot of spots because it takes chances.  (bonus:  female director)

"ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE"    2019     PG-13      1 hour and 41 minutes

A pair of childhood friends end up falling for each other when they grow up.

Director:

 Nahnatchka Khan

Writers:

 Michael Golamco, Randall Park |

Stars:

 Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito