'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' Is The Film My 16-Year-Old Self Needed | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Arts Entertainment

'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' Is The Film My 16-Year-Old Self Needed

Where was this wholesome teen flick (and Peter Kavinsky) when I needed it?

1018
'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' Is The Film My 16-Year-Old Self Needed

I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for cheesy teen romance films. In fact, I could say I've binged more than enough sappy flicks over the years.

After scrolling through social media one day, and finding the trailer for "To All The Boys I've Loved Before," I knew I had to see what the hype was all about. So, I did.

The film follows the somewhat complicated love life of Lara Jean Covey, a shy, bookish 16-year-old girl whose secret love letters get sent out. As Lara Jean deals with the consequences of the letters being mysteriously sent out (and the reveal of an awkward crush on her sister's boyfriend), she develops a close connection to one of the recipients.

The genre of teen flicks in and of itself could be criticized for following the same generic storyline: boy and girl from two different worlds meet, fall in love, argue, break up and get back together. After all, that formula is what makes young audiences flock to the latest screenings. They want to see something that feels wholesome and familiar.

Jenny Han's breakthrough young adult novel, "To All The Boys I've Loved Before," and its film adaptation set the bar high for teen flicks of this generation. Besides the film's cool indie soundtrack, killer personal style and dreamy teen heartthrob (*sigh* Noah Centineo), one thing truly stands out: the film's diversity.

Lara Jean's Asian roots are something Han stresses in her novel, and the producers of the film follow suit. Asian-American actors make up one percent of the entertainers in Hollywood and are visibly underrepresented in lead roles. Lana Candor, the actress who plays Lara Jean, has been praised for her performance as an Asian-American lead.

Growing up watching classic films, such as "Mean Girls" and "She's All That," I wasn't able to connect to the lead characters in a cultural sense. As an Asian-Canadian, I've faced different situations that no other girls I know have faced, especially when it comes to my personal life. I wanted to see my culture and traditions being portrayed on screen.

Lara Jean's character speaks to my 16-year-old self: somewhat quiet, bookish and boy-crazy. Though, in all honesty, if I were to send love letters to my old high school boyfriends, I probably would never be able to live it down.

I feel that many girls can relate to Lara's character and find meaning in this teen flick. Perhaps you have a list of "letters" in mind, or maybe you get nostalgic thinking of your first high school boyfriend. Either way, the film gives a humble perspective on the life of a cultured teen girl.

Of all the teen flicks I've watched, "To All The Boys I've Loved Before" is one of the ones I wish I'd seen earlier in life. Writing was one of my greatest passions as a teenager (as an English major, it still is), and I dabbled in poetry to express my innermost thoughts and feelings, especially toward the boys I loved. They were all special and deserved to have a poem written about them (I'm sure we all had our own Peter Kavinsky).

I found deep meaning in Lara Jean's letters. They were a way to cope with the fear of rejection, uncertainty and possible heartbreak, falling in love with an imagined fantasy rather than being true to your feelings.

"When I write, I hold nothing back. I write like he'll never read it. Because he never will. Every secret thought, every careful observation, everything I've saved up inside me, I put it all in the letter. When I'm done, I seal it, I address it, and then I put it in my teal hatbox."

Though I've grown up quite a bit (I'm no longer the bookish 16-year-old girl I used to be), I still watch this film with nostalgia. I only hope teen girls like my former self are watching it with an open perspective, too.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

248
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl roommates
StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

20 Thoughts While Studying For Finals

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1435
Thoughts While Studying For Finals
StableDiffusion


That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

6446
Disney magic kingdom castle on new years
StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

40 Gift Ideas for the Indecisive

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

120574
Christmas gifts around a tree
StableDiffusion

It's officially December. There is less than a month of 2024, and I still feel like yesterday was summer. Now comes the merriest time of the year, the Christmas season.

Everyone has been waiting for this time of year since mid-October (which is way too early, in my opinion) or before. It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. A lot of times when I ask friends and family what they want, I get a lot of "I don't know" or "I don't care."

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments