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https://blacknerdproblems.com/to-all-the-boys-always-and-forever-is-a-fitting-final-chapter/
Watching the third chapter in the To All the Boys saga, Always and Forever, the expectation is one of diminishing returns: How often can you throw a wrench into the dreamy mechanics of the perfect high school couple and be moved by their solving it? I imagine the challenge of writing its finale, Always and Forever, was finding yet another conflict that is threatening enough to spark genuine drama but benevolent enough not to undermine the anchoring characteristics of its two stars, Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), as two aggressively adorable, thoughtful, well-intentioned lovers.
Fortunately, the Michael Fimognari-directed To All the Boys: Always and Forever strikes that balance by facing the couple against the natural evolution an any high school romance: choosing a college. When college prospects give Lara Jean and Peter different options, the two have to decide how to navigate their love for each other with making the right choices for themselves as individuals.
Such an organic conflict allows both Lara Jean and Peter to remain perfect–almost too perfect–as the big-hearted duo you’re cheering for and paves the way for one of a few anchor moments that make the film memorable. Different from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and its sequel P.S. I Still Love You, this one sets itself apart as a travel movie as Lara Jean’s family visits Korea and returns to Portland just before Lara Jean and her senior class take a trip to a pre-pandemic New York City. Always and Forever leans into the beauty of Seoul and New York, which would have been endearing enough on their own under normal circumstances, but are made even more charming during a time where most of us have lost the wonder of seeing new places for the first time.
It’s ambitious in how much story it fits in–there’s Lara Jean’s father (John Corbett) and his relationship with Trina (Sarayu Blue), Kitty’s newfound interest in boys, Lara Jean’s relationship with her sisters, and more–and while so many moving pieces take effort to make a cohesive narrative, they weave together effortlessly. Prior groundwork saves us the need for rehashed character introductions, and instead allows the movie to tie up character arcs for not only its main characters, but lend attention to some secondaries as well, from Lara Jean’s dad to her best friend, Chris (Madeleine Arthur). The only new character introduction is Peter’s absentee dad as an attempt to deepen Peter’s personal arc, which I’m not entirely convinced was necessary, but is also restrained enough to not do harm.
Its focus on family dynamics is one of the most fulfilling features of the series that puts a relationship in the context of a full world that surrounds it. We see Lara Jean and Peter mature towards this post-high school crossroads in their lives, but also what that maturation means for Lara Jean and Trina, or Lara Jean and her sisters, or Lara Jean and her own career. As Lara Jean unexpectedly begins to fall in love with New York City, you can’t help but feel it’s another natural and worthy love–she’s a dreamer and a writer, and the city wouldn’t take much to lure her in and make her question a future with Peter versus one where what might be best for her life might mean a future without him. For viewers, a few adventures with NYC’s food scene and stealing a pink couch and dragging it onto the J train with some new friends are more than enough to drive home the feeling of being young in New York.
As the series closes, the highest praise I can offer this film–and the ones before it–is that you want to spend time with its characters. The perfectly measured stakes and aspirational romance arguably come second to the enjoyment of seeing Lara Jean, her family, and her friends showing the best of what youth, family, and relationships have to offer. For many of us it was already a welcome escape from an often harsher reality, but as LJ travels to find her place in the world, Always and Forever may be a more satisfying escape than even the first time.
Find all of Jordan Calhoun’s Rotten Tomatoes-approved movie reviews at Jordan Calhoun at the Movies.
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The post ‘To All the Boys: Always and Forever’ is a Fitting Final Chapter appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Watching the third chapter in the To All the Boys saga, Always and Forever, the expectation is one of diminishing returns: How often can you throw a wrench into the dreamy mechanics of the perfect high school couple and be moved by their solving it? I imagine the challenge of writing its finale, Always and Forever, was finding yet another conflict that is threatening enough to spark genuine drama but benevolent enough not to undermine the anchoring characteristics of its two stars, Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), as two aggressively adorable, thoughtful, well-intentioned lovers.
Fortunately, the Michael Fimognari-directed To All the Boys: Always and Forever strikes that balance by facing the couple against the natural evolution an any high school romance: choosing a college. When college prospects give Lara Jean and Peter different options, the two have to decide how to navigate their love for each other with making the right choices for themselves as individuals.
Such an organic conflict allows both Lara Jean and Peter to remain perfect–almost too perfect–as the big-hearted duo you’re cheering for and paves the way for one of a few anchor moments that make the film memorable. Different from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and its sequel P.S. I Still Love You, this one sets itself apart as a travel movie as Lara Jean’s family visits Korea and returns to Portland just before Lara Jean and her senior class take a trip to a pre-pandemic New York City. Always and Forever leans into the beauty of Seoul and New York, which would have been endearing enough on their own under normal circumstances, but are made even more charming during a time where most of us have lost the wonder of seeing new places for the first time.
It’s ambitious in how much story it fits in–there’s Lara Jean’s father (John Corbett) and his relationship with Trina (Sarayu Blue), Kitty’s newfound interest in boys, Lara Jean’s relationship with her sisters, and more–and while so many moving pieces take effort to make a cohesive narrative, they weave together effortlessly. Prior groundwork saves us the need for rehashed character introductions, and instead allows the movie to tie up character arcs for not only its main characters, but lend attention to some secondaries as well, from Lara Jean’s dad to her best friend, Chris (Madeleine Arthur). The only new character introduction is Peter’s absentee dad as an attempt to deepen Peter’s personal arc, which I’m not entirely convinced was necessary, but is also restrained enough to not do harm.
Its focus on family dynamics is one of the most fulfilling features of the series that puts a relationship in the context of a full world that surrounds it. We see Lara Jean and Peter mature towards this post-high school crossroads in their lives, but also what that maturation means for Lara Jean and Trina, or Lara Jean and her sisters, or Lara Jean and her own career. As Lara Jean unexpectedly begins to fall in love with New York City, you can’t help but feel it’s another natural and worthy love–she’s a dreamer and a writer, and the city wouldn’t take much to lure her in and make her question a future with Peter versus one where what might be best for her life might mean a future without him. For viewers, a few adventures with NYC’s food scene and stealing a pink couch and dragging it onto the J train with some new friends are more than enough to drive home the feeling of being young in New York.
As the series closes, the highest praise I can offer this film–and the ones before it–is that you want to spend time with its characters. The perfectly measured stakes and aspirational romance arguably come second to the enjoyment of seeing Lara Jean, her family, and her friends showing the best of what youth, family, and relationships have to offer. For many of us it was already a welcome escape from an often harsher reality, but as LJ travels to find her place in the world, Always and Forever may be a more satisfying escape than even the first time.
Find all of Jordan Calhoun’s Rotten Tomatoes-approved movie reviews at Jordan Calhoun at the Movies.
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here!
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!
The post ‘To All the Boys: Always and Forever’ is a Fitting Final Chapter appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
By Ashlee Banks ·February 19, 2021February 19, 2021
A Texas Mayor has resigned after telling residents to fend for themselves while much of the state grapples with a deadly and record-breaking winter storm.
On Tuesday, February 16, millions of Texas residents were left without power and water as temperatures dipped below freezing. In spite of this, Colorado City Mayor Tim Boyd, who knew residents were literally fighting for their lives, for some reason became enraged and decided to take it out on the people he was elected to protect.
Boyd posted a controversial, grammatically incorrect Facebook post about his thoughts surrounding the ongoing crisis in Texas. We knew it was going to be bad from the opening line: “Let me hurt some feelings while I have a minute!!!” he said. “No one owes you are [sic] your family anything: nor is it the local government’s responsibility to support you during trying times like this! Sink or swim it’s your choice,” he continued.
As a matter of fact, sir, it is the local government’s responsibility to help a community in need during a natural disaster. Why take on the responsibility of running a city if you couldn’t care less about the people residing there? These folks aren’t lazy, they are literally dying and in serious need of help.
“This is sadly a product of a socialist government where they feed people to believe that the FEW will work and others will become dependent on handouts…I’ll be d***** if I’m going to provide for anyone that is capable of doing it themselves…bottom line quit crying and looking for a handout! Get off you’re a** and take care of your own family,” Boyd went on to say.
What part of this natural disaster isn’t he understanding? The people of Texas weren’t prepared for the weather to strike in the way that it did. So many have lost their homes because pipes are bursting. On to of that, these problems are exacerbated by the global pandemic and all of the troubles that go along with it. Some already depleted whatever was in their savings just so they could get through 2020. And now they have to figure out how to live through this storm. People aren’t looking for handouts. They’re simply looking to their elected officials to assist them. If people could help themselves by providing water, heat and power for their families then they would. Boyd is simply a selfish Mayor who doesn’t know how to lead.
Boyd has since deleted the thoughtless Facebook post, but it doesn’t matter because many people had already shared it and screenshot it. He apologized in another Facebook post, saying, “I would never want to hurt the elderly or anyone that is in true need of help to be left to fend for themselves. I was only making the statement that those folks that are too lazy to get up and fend for themselves but are capable should not be dealt a handout. I apologize for the wording and some of the phrases that were used!”
Honestly, he should’ve resigned and skipped the empty apology. Boyd is a politician who should know to think before he speaks or publishes anything. He meant what he said, and now he needs to deal with the backlash. It’s time for him to come to grips with the fact that he potentially destroyed his career in politics because he thought it made sense to turn his back on his city during a crippling natural disaster.
The post Texas Mayor Resigns After Controversial Facebook Post appeared first on Essence.