Thanks to Netflix, the past few weeks have been filled with nostalgia, after I watched Sierra Burgess Is A Loser and To All The Boys I've Loved Before ( which I viewed twice ).
Both have been compared to the late, great John Hughes' classics, and I heartily agree. Not because they're 100% similar - the '80s was a much less complicated time, sans mobile phones and promiscuity - but because they share the spirit of Hughes' films ( and pay outright tributes to the beloved director ).
Young audiences are more demanding these days so both movies feature rather convoluted plots ( and a few not quite plausible moments ). But it's all in good fun, and the casts are extremely likable.
Noah Centineo deserves special mention ( it's especially interesting to note that he has leading roles in both films ). I already spotted him in TATBILB, as he reminded me of a younger version of Mark Ruffalo. But I liked him even more in SBIAL, so I watched TATBILB again, lol.
Noah is now getting a lot of attention, which is perfectly understandable. He isn't conventionally handsome like, say, Logan Lerman or Nick Robinson. He has a facial scar from a childhood injury and a habit of contorting his face ( subconsciously, I suspect ). And he isn't overtly sexy or hunky. But he possesses an awkward, sweet charm that is the core ingredient of any successful rom-com. Like John Cusack in Say Anything, Andrew McCarthy in Pretty In Pink and Mannequin, and Chris O'Donnell in Circle of Friends.
He's also being called the Tom Hanks of his generation, and I'm inclined to agree. I remember Hanks from Big, Splash and Joe Vs The Volcano. Noah is definitely in that category.
Someone should put him in a movie with either Tom Hanks or Mark Ruffalo. I'd love to see that!
Another terrific Netflix rom-com I recommend is Set It Up, starring Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs, Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell. It's more suitable for adults and I loved it.
Now getting prepared for the November onslaught, when new seasons of House Of Cards, Outlander and Narcos will air. My eyeballs are going to explode, haha. :)
