Always Be My Maybe

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Always Be My Maybe – 4 out of 5

The trailer for Always Be My Maybe was hysterical, it had Randall Park and Ali Wong headlining the thing and Keanu Reeves has a cameo in it.  You bet your backside I was gonna sit down with this one!  And sat down with it I did and it was terrific!

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Also, Daniel Dae Kim is in the film and it is a goddamn crime he isn't a
leading man.  He's talented and look at him!  He's a damn stud!

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I used to go to these booths by myself and just stare
blankly at the camera for all the shots...I live a lonely,
sad life.

Sasha (Wong) and Marcus (Park) grew up together and were the best-est of best friends and to the point that Sasha was basically a part of Marcus’ family.  After the death of Marcus’ mom, the two came gravitated towards one to help the healing and ended up losing their virginity together.  The two soon went their separate ways and lost contact after Marcus said some unforgivable things.  In adulthood, Sasha is a successful and world famous chef and is going to marry the handsome and influential Brandon Choi (Daniel Dae Kim) and Marcus is working with his father in a family owned air conditioning business and playing in a band.  After Brandon suggests that he and Sasha delay the wedding and have some fun separately while Sasha opens up her latest restaurant in her home town of San Francisco, she is reunited with Marcus.  At first it’s friendly but both of them soon learn that their feelings for each other were deeper than just a friendship.

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A romcom with great comedy and no montage of the leading female and her
friends trying on clothes...that's a win in my book.

Always Be My Maybe, at its core, is a romcom but is able to bypass a lot of the cheesiness that I find indigestible about romantic comedies.  Basically, this movie is able to provide an emphasis that is more comedic than romantic but is able to blend in the romance and drama and make it all feel fluid.  I think that’s what made the whole think work for me is this dynamic because having the comedy feel like it is at the forefront and is the heavy emphasis it created a story that was easy to become engrossed in and allowed for fun characters that never felt like walking clichés you’d typically see in a romcom.  However, the film is written in such a way and crafted and constructed so well that when the film does start to lean in a more dramatic and romantic way, it never feels like it is leaving the comedy behind but rather enhancing the experience with additional flavors.

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We've all been there, amirite?

The cast is another element that helps keeps this film from falling into too many romcom tropes.  All the characters are simultaneously very grounded and real but over-the-top and slightly cartoonish.  The wackier sides of the characters is kept within limits and reserved only for comedic effect, like Keanu Reeves playing a very douche-y version of himself.  Overall, ultimately, the characters are colorful and dynamic and, most of all, a whole lot of fun.  It was easy to get investing in them and they provided a lot of entertainment as you watched their tales unfold.

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Anytime we get more Keanu our lives improve noticeably.  It's science.

These characters work so well because they were written wonderfully but also because the cast in this film is just fantastic.  Randall Park and Ali Wong are not only hysterical in this film but also showcase a tremendous chemistry and work stupendously together.  Both knew exactly how to perform their characters to the upmost and knew when to hit the funny and when to hit the dramatic.  Surrounding them was a ton of great supporting characters all portrayed by very talented performers who were all absolutely fantastic.  Literally everyone in this film is amazing and really helps give life to the world that Sasha and Marcus are rediscovering each other in.

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So that's kissing.

The only real drawback I found in Always Be My Maybe is that it’s probably not going to be a film that I will watch repeatedly in my life but that’s barely a drawback.  The film is terrifically put together and has a fun and sweet story that delivers the laughs and heartwarming elements.  The characters are very enjoyable and the cast delivers beyond expectations.  It’s also incredibly refreshing to see a romantic comedy that isn’t focusing on the usual white woman finding herself in love despite the fact she swore she wasn’t looking for it.