To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
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A high school girl's secret collection of love letters is accidentally mailed, leading to a complicated web of fake dating and real feelings.
The story
Shy high school junior Lara Jean Covey has spent years writing secret love letters to various boys, which she keeps hidden in her closet. When her younger sister, Kitty, accidentally sends these letters out, Lara Jean is suddenly confronted by the recipients. Among them is Peter Kavinsky, a popular student who reveals he received one of her letters. To manage the fallout and convince her friends and family that she doesn't have feelings for the boys in the letters, Lara Jean enters into a fake dating arrangement with Peter. As they navigate the complexities of their fabricated relationship, they must navigate the growing tension between their public roles and their private feelings.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Lara Jean Covey's secret stash of love letters is mailed by her sister, Kitty. Lara Jean is confronted by Peter Kavinsky, who received one of her letters, and she impulsively kisses him to throw off her friend Josh. To manage the situation, she and Peter agree to fake a relationship. As they spend time together, they develop genuine feelings, culminating in a kiss during a school ski trip. After a misunderstanding involving a leaked video and a betrayal by Peter's ex-girlfriend, Gen, Lara Jean reconciles with her sister and her friend Josh. Ultimately, she realizes her true feelings for Peter and confesses them to him, leading to a mutual admission of love. The film ends with a mid-credits scene showing another recipient, John Ambrose McClaren, arriving at her door.
- First release year
- 2018
- Runtime (minutes)
- 99
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Susan Johnson
- Writers
- Sofia Alvarez · writer
- Cast and characters
- Lana Condor · Lara Jean Song-Covey; Noah Centineo · Peter Kavinsky; Janel Parrish · Margot Song-Covey; Anna Cathcart · Kitty Song-Covey; Andrew Bachelor · Greg; Trezzo Mahoro · Lucas James; Madeleine Arthur · Christine "Chris" Donati; Emilija Baranac · Genevieve "Gen" Mitchell; Israel Broussard · Josh Sanderson; John Corbett · Dr. Daniel Covey
- Genres
- teen romantic comedy; teen comedy; teen romance
- Themes
- identity; romance; family; coming of age
- Tone and mood
- gentle; timeless; intimate
- Premise and plot tags
- fake dating; romance; high school
- Source material / true-story basis
- Jenny Han's 2014 novel 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before'
- Franchise connections
- To All the Boys film series
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the cast and the film's sincerity and fresh approach to teen romance.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 64 · scale: 100 · review count: 12
- Production trivia
- A scene featuring a bottle of Yakult led to a spike in sales for the drink in parts of the world.; The film was shot in Portland, Oregon, despite the book being set in Virginia.; The production used pastel lighting to capture the character's romantic imagination.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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