A Tourist’s Guide to Love tells the story of Amanda, a woman who meets someone special and discovers a new way of living life when she goes to Vietnam after her breakup. The romantic comedy is now streaming on Netflix.
Story
Amanda is a travel executive at Tourista, a company that is planning to acquire a small tour company, Saigon Silver Star, in Vietnam. They need someone to assess the company before deciding whether they should invest in it or not.
When her boyfriend of five years moves to Ohio and wants them to take a break, Amanda decides to go on one of Saigon Silver Star’s tours in Vietnam as a secret shopper.
Amanda’s tour guide is Saigon Silver Star’s owner’s nephew, Sinh Thach, whose views on traveling are very different from Amanda’s. Unlike her, he does not plan everything, as he believes in living in the moment.
Sinh takes her to places that never would have found a place in her itinerary. The trip turns out to be a life-changing experience for her, and Amanda finds the adventure and love she never thought she would.
Performances
Rachael Leigh Cook gives an adequate performance. She puts an effort into her performance, but unfortunately, it fails to move the audience. Even the ending scene does not leave an impact.
Scott Ly, as Sinh Thach, does everything that the script requires him to do, but it is also clear that the actor’s performance could have been better.
Nsưt Lê Thiện, who plays the part of Sinh’s grandmother, is an actor who clearly stands out. Her performance seems so genuine that it is hard to figure out if she is even acting in the first place.
Positives
The best part about the film is the depiction of Vietnam and the Vietnamese culture. It is hard to take one’s eyes off the screen when the film takes the audience on an adventure and gives them a glimpse of the country’s beauty.
The members of the tour group have their own stories, and even though these stories do not get much time, they still come across as heart-warming and meaningful.
Negatives
Like most romantic comedies, this film is also predictable; the audience knows how the tour will end. Furthermore, there is not much chemistry between the lead actors, which defeats the whole purpose of a romantic comedy.
Amanda’s worries about her future with Sinh seem legitimate, but the film merely mentions them. They are never explored further and are abandoned to be dealt with in the future by Amanda.
Verdict
A Tourist’s Guide to Love is a visual delight, but the chemistry between the lead pair is nowhere near as good. It is not the best romantic comedy out there, but it is not one of the worst either.
A Tourist's Guide to Love
Director: Steven K. Tsuchida
Date Created: 2023-04-20 17:28
2.5
Also Read: A Tourist’s Guide to Love summary and ending explained