THE STORY – Heather, a young woman setting off on an adventure across Europe with her best friends before settling into her perfectly planned life. When she crosses paths with Jack.
THE CAST – Madelyn Cline, KJ Apa, Sofia Wylie & Madison Thompson
THE TEAM – Lasse Hallström (Director), Les Bohem & Vera Herbert (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 96 Minutes
Thankfully, we are seeing a renaissance of romance films. From “Anyone But You“ to last year’s “The Idea of Me and You,” “We Live in Time,“ and this year’s “Materialists“ and “My Oxford Year,“ it is time to fall in love again in the movies. Now, while most of these films are not destined to be the best films of their respective years, the opportunity to live long on streaming services and be devoured by a young audience is strong, as they showcase the highs and lows of an intoxicating love, especially a first real love.
“The Map That Leads to You,“ based on the 2017 novel of the same name, follows Heather (Madelyn Cline) and her friends (Sofia Wylie and Madison Thompson) on their post-college European trip. It is the summer before they all disperse and begin their first adult jobs in the corporate world, where Heather has already secured a nice banking job in New York City. She is someone who enjoys planning and checklists, knowing precisely what to expect and when, which keeps her and her friends on a tight schedule to see all the sights Europe has to offer them. It is palpable that she is trying to soak up every last drop of her last free summer.
But on the train, she meets Jack (KJ Apa), a happy-go-lucky Kiwi who sweeps Heather off her feet. Unlike Heather, Jack doesn’t really plan much and allows life to happen to him. For example, he went to Europe to follow in his grandfather’sfootsteps, who had traveled there after the war. Intrigued, Heather accompanies him, and the two develop a profound yet unexpected romance, which is great for the time being. After all, who doesn’t want to fall for a cute New Zealander in Europe at 23? But as the summer comes to a close, with Heather’s return flight date fast approaching, is this romance something that can translate to the real world?
With any romance film, the success of it relies on the chemistry between its leads. After all, if one does not root for the couple, the film is pointless. Thankfully, Cline and Apa do shine with the material they are given. Cline portrays the mildly anxious and controlling type well, whose nerves calm down during her experience with Jack. And Apa is exactly what the young female audience wants in a romantic lead. He is just as charming as he brings Heather out of her comfort zone. It is hard not to root for them or, at the very least, not enjoy their European fling at the beginning of the film.
This is also supported by wonderful shots of Europe, consisting of various countries, from the crystal-clear blue water to the strobing lights from a rave, to the simple cobblestones and buildings of a random European street. It is hard not to fall in love with the serenity, and then the characters themselves. But this doesn’t just include Heather and Jack, as Heather’s friends, Constance and Amy, have their own respective plotlines and arcs. It is evident from the first shot of the film that the three friends are a united front who support and protect one another. Even though “The Map That Leads to You“ is, at its core, a romance film, this female friendship depicted here is a sight to be seen.
However, due to the nature of the film, “The Map That Leads to You“ does step into the melodramatic waters. It is nothing new within this genre, but it does make the film both predictable and repetitive. The film is not interested in exploring thought-provoking topics, such as the pressure on young people to have everything figured out, the societal expectation for young people to eagerly join the capitalist machine, or the struggles of being in a 20-something post-college phase. Instead, director Lasse Hallström and screenwriters Les Bohem and Vera Herbert are really only interested in the drama of the romance, especially when it is revealed that Jack is hiding something. Now, while the film would have been more interesting if the creators delved into the more serious and mature themes, the targeted audience is – most likely – more interested in the romance drama, which is provided in spades. So, it is understandable that these topics are left out, even if it would have made the film much stronger as a whole.
“The Map That Leads to You“ is a Prime Video original film, meaning it will be shown via Prime Video, which may be a perfect home for it. For fans of the romance genre, it is a predictable installment that still manages to scratch all the itches fans of the genre look for. It may not be considered the best film of the year. Still, it is destined to be a hit with a young audience that is replayed over and over again during sleepovers at the end of summer—a reminder that sometimes it’s not about the destination, but the memories and emotions you gather along the way.
