People We Meet On Vacation Movie Review (2026)
A cute rom-com about two friends who go on vacation together every year, People We Meet On Vacation is light and predictable, but entertaining.
While I always love going to the movie theater, there is something to be said for watching movies at home. It’s cozy, your snacks are right in the kitchen, and the entertainment is just waiting for you to press play. So when a streaming service comes out with a new movie, those parts are a bonus. You just have to hope that the movie is as well.
People We Meet On Vacation is about Polly, a travel writer who visits different locations and publishes articles about them. Years ago, while trying to get back to her hometown, straight-laced Alex gives her a ride. The two become friends after a number of mishaps and ultimately agree to go on one vacation per year together, no matter where they are or who they are in a relationship with.
There are a few really great qualities about this movie. First, while you might not be sure of them at first, in a short time, you grow to like both Polly and Alex. You care about their friendship and what might happen to them.
You want to know their history and how things played out, which the movie continually holds close to its vest. Most of the time, this is great. It keeps you curious and doesn’t reveal much until it is exactly the right moment. There are a few instances in which you feel a little like, “Tell me already!,” but overall, it really works.
Emily Bader and Tom Blyth offer nice performances as Polly and Alex, managing a palpable tension throughout much of the film. They are significantly more than your typical cardboard cutout love-interests in the dozens of rom-coms released each year, and with a different cast, I don’t think this would be as engaging as it is.
While you do want to know all of the things about this relationship, People We Meet On Vacation does start to feel a little drawn out and cliché. Some specific obstacles are fully expected, and when it takes awhile to get there, I felt the impatience start to build. But it doesn’t always go the way you think it will, which is a pleasant surprise. That said, I could have done without the last 5 minutes of the film (although I understand why they chose to end it the way they did).
People We Meet On Vacation reminds me of a When Harry Met Sally meets The Sure Thing mashup with a few of its own flavors mixed in. It is cute and has all of the ingredients for an easy watch, so grab your popcorn and hit play.
Runtime: 117 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 3/5 Stars
Available: Free on Netflix
