When a film titled A Tourist’s Guide to Love begins with the protagonist expecting to get proposed to, you know she’s about to get dumped. Amanda Riley (a wonderful Rachel Leigh Cook), a travel industry professional, does get unceremoniously dumped by her forensic accountant boyfriend John (Ben Feldman). He wants a ‘hiatus’ (a new word for ‘break-up’?) and Amanda finds herself on the next flight to Vietnam. All within ten minutes of the film. In fact, too much happens in the first few minutes of the film, but then, once we reach Vietnam, A Tourist’s Guide to Love becomes a supremely delightful, albeit generic exploration of romance with a side order of soul-searching.
Director: Steven K Tsuchida
Cast: Rachel Leigh Cook, Scott Ly, Ben Feldman, Missi Pyle
Platform: Netflix
Amanda is a meticulous planner, and when she meets her impulsive tourist guide Sinh (a thoroughly endearing Scott Ly), we know where the film is headed. Although we know she is in the country to take over Sinh’s family company, we know what is going to happen in the end. Midway through the film when she gets repeated calls and texts from John, who realises his folly, we know the beats of what is going to follow. Nevertheless, A Tourist’s Guide to Love manages to charm our socks off courtesy of performances… and the innate beauty of Vietnam itself.
Amanda explores the country with a group, and although the film initially showcases the dynamics of the other members of this group, the film soon becomes only about Amanda and Sinh. While it isn’t that serious a problem, the film might have done better had the other characters not been pushed into the periphery. Anyway, along with the group, we too visit the various cities and villages of Vietnam, fall in love with the off-beat tourist spots, and relish the sounds and sights of the places. Points to the makers for showcasing the authenticity of the local cuisine and lifestyle. This rootedness also allows the film to bring in the familial connections of Sinh and deliver a well-rounded character arc for both Amanda and him.
Sinh walks away with the best lines of the film, and they are actually terrific dialogues that can be used by countries to promote their tourism. The film has a lot of tiny callbacks that put a smile on our faces, and even when resorting to cliches like the proverbial walkaways, facing one’s fears to attain love, and the grand gestures, it works like a charm. A Tourist’s Guide to Love is so pleasing that it won’t be too much of an assumption that you’d be checking for details about the next flight to Vietnam as the credits roll. I know I did.
#charming #romance #Vietnam #tourism #advertisement #Cinema #express
