Always Be My Maybe

UK Release Date. 31 May 2019
Certification. 12
Running Time. 1 hour 41 mins

Director. Nahnatchka Khan

Cast. Vivian Bang, Michelle Buteau, Daniel Dae Kim, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves, Karan Soni, James Saito, Ali Wong.
Rating. 30%

Review.

The romantic comedy is firmly established as a staple of the Netflix offering. Following on from the warmth afforded to Crazy Rich Asians, To All The Boys I've Loved Before and The Kissing Booth, Netflix released Nahnatchka Khan's Always Be My Maybe.

Ali Wong, writer of four seasons of the comedy series Fresh Off The Boat, plays celebrity chef, Sasha Tran alongside fellow Fresh Off The Boat cast member, Randall Park (Marcus Kim), two inseparable childhood friends who reconnect after 16 years apart. The major issue with Always Be My Maybe is that despite the compelling back story opening vignette, the two main characters never really convince as an adult couple.

Ultimately, the weight of the genre, the saccharin sweet romantic comedy weighs heavily on Always Be My Maybe. This film is not as accomplished as The Shop Around The Corner, When Harry Met Sally or Notting Hill. Nor is it even as endearing as Roxanne, While You Were Sleeping or The Wedding Singer. Instead, Always Be My Maybe resembles a made for TV movie from the Hallmark Channel and not even an initially wonderful scene-stealing cameo from Keanu Reeves can elevate this film from mediocrity.