The Kissing Booth 2 (2020)

Terrible. There is absolutely nothing good about this movie. From the script to the direction. It’s enough to make you cry. For the first half hour, I was genuinely amazed watching King; normal conversation is out of the question. Half-screaming, weird gestures, everything delivered in such a strange tone of: look at me, I can't act normal. All those charisma-less "teenagers" who haven't been teenagers for years, constantly talking past each other, doing the most illogical things, and making decisions based on guesswork. There isn't a single second of normal communication. This happens too much in (this kind of) movies. I'm really done with it. Not a single choice in the story's structure can be justified by any logic, and I really hope that Lee doesn't have to act so childish again in the next installment. Good heavens, a huge guy, and then you have to act like a screaming 11-year-old in a role like that. What a tragedy.

Translated from Dutch · View original

Surprisingly entertaining, actually. I didn't always find the first part spectacular, especially the relationship between King and her lover, which was never believable because there was a complete lack of chemistry. This film focuses much less on that relationship and more on King, her soulmate, and other characters, and that works. The atmosphere is fine, there are a few nice moments, and it's nice and sunny too. The 130 minutes are substantial and by no means every part manages to captivate, but as a whole, this is pretty okay viewing material for lazily watching from the couch. 3.0*.

Translated from Dutch · View original

Elle [Joey King] and Noah [Jacob Elordi] struggle with their long-distance relationship now that Noah is studying at Berkeley. After visiting Noah, Elle believes he is cheating on her with Chloe [Maisie Richardson-Sellers]. She sees an opportunity to earn her college tuition through a dance competition and prepares for the finals with potential love interest Marco [Taylor Zakhar Perez]. Lee [Joel Courtney] is now in a relationship with Rachel [Meganna Young], whom Elle considers an obstacle. More drama than rom-com and less over-the-top acting, but the plot is quite cliché.

Translated from Dutch · View original