The ‘Kissing Booth’ Sequel Is Better Than The First. That’s Not Saying Much.
The ‘Kissing Booth’ Sequel Is Better Than The First. That’s Not Saying Much.
For those who would rather not engage with the original, a quick recap: “The Kissing Booth” follows Elle Evans (Joey King), a Los Angeles teenager who risks her friendship with classmate Lee Flynn (Joel Courtney) by falling for his rebellious older brother, Noah (Jacob Elordi). Elle and Lee abide by a set of rules they created as children, one of which is to never date the other’s relatives. They fall out when Lee discovers the illicit romance, leading Noah and Elle to briefly break up. Eventually, everyone makes peace. The sequel picks up with Elle and Lee’s senior year, and Noah’s freshman year of college. Elle once again struggles to reconcile her relationships with each Flynn brother: Does she chase her and Lee’s shared dream of attending the University of California at Berkeley, or does she apply to Harvard University to be with Noah? Elle’s jealousy and constant recollection of Noah’s playboy past puts strain on their long-distance relationship. Enter Marco (Taylor Zakhar Perez), her hot dance competition partner. While the kissing booth again serves as a
tangential plot device — in both films, Elle and Lee run one for a school fundraiser — noticeable changes suggest co-writers Jay Arnold and Vince Marcello (who also directed) responded to criticism of the 2018 film. Noah’s rage and borderline abusive tendencies have dissipated, replaced with homesickness and, from what he tells Elle, unflinching loyalty. Misogynist currents are scrapped in favor of a story line empowering Lee’s girlfriend, Rachel (Meganne Young). If “The Kissing Booth 2” is watchable, viewers have Elle to thank; King remains the strongest component of a now-franchise that, quite frankly, might be beneath her. The actress, who earned an Emmy nomination last year for playing Gypsy Rose Blanchard in the Hulu miniseries “The Act,” makes the most of a thinly written quirky girl by contributing a vivaciousness that (at least partly) explains why every guy in school falls in love with Elle. Courtney and Elordi don’t have as much to do, but the latter’s turn on the critically acclaimed HBO series “Euphoria” gives his return shades of tragedy as well. The film clocks in at 132 minutes, which is unnecessary — especially given the secondhand embarrassment viewers must endure — but understandable for Netflix. The distributor doesn’t play by the rules; it will likely deem “The Kissing Booth 2” a hit among its pantheon of rom-coms,
backing the claim with metrics that count two minutes of streaming as a view. (To be fair, the first film, though critically panned, probably did perform well, if the young actors’ social media followings are any indication.) And so, we brace for more. Netflix has yet to greenlight another “Kissing Booth,” but the sequel’s ending and its near-guaranteed success suggest it is poised for a follow-up. One can only hope that, given the established pattern, it fares better than “The Godfather: Part III.”
Love ‘The Kissing Booth’? Actor Joel Courtney Promises ‘KB2' Is Even Better
© Provided by The LA Times Joel Courtney plays Lee Flynn, now a senior in high school, in "The Kissing Booth 2" on Netflix. (Marcos Cruz / Netflix) Joel Courtney thinks “The Kissing Booth 2” is better than “The Kissing Booth.” “I just think that we really came into our characters in more of a powerful way in the second film, because we knew the characters, we already had history with these characters,” said the actor, who plays Lee Flynn in Netflix's rom-com sequel, which dropped on Friday. "We had history with each other. I think that it really allowed for more depth of character and character building. And then on set, there was a comfortability.” Once he found out there would be a second film, Courtney was excited to return to the characters that drove the original — Netflix's most-rewatched movie of 2018 — and built a solid fan base. "There were rumors [of a sequel],” he said. “There were basically fan petitions happening at that time and I kept thinking, ‘It would be nice, but I don't want to build my hopes too high,’ and then we got the green light and I was just ecstatic. I was so excited to get to come back to these characters that I fell in love with.” Within six
months after the first film was released, the cast’s social media accounts exploded. Fans were begging for a second film. “They fell in love with these characters,” said Courtney, 24. “I've been working for 10 years, I've worked on a lot of projects, but very few reached the audience like I think ‘The Kissing Booth’ did. And it was a really special occasion. I knew it as soon as social media started showing us.” "The Kissing Booth 2," which once again stars Joey King as Lee's best friend, Elle Evans, and Jacob Elordi as his older brother, Noah Flynn, both expands upon and adds new themes to those addressed in the first installment. The sequel sees Lee and Elle as high school seniors, with Noah, now Elle's long-distance boyfriend,
away at college. “The themes for the second film are kind of like learning to be OK in your circumstances,” Courtney said. “For Lee it's specifically learning boundaries, and what it means to be able to be in a relationship, and honestly just. Like, accept the consequences and learn to face issues. There's problems and trials that he comes across in the second film and it's because of his inability to basically say no to his best friend and to his girlfriend.” Courtney believes “The Kissing Booth 2” will connect with people across multiple walks of life because of how real the characters' problems are. And he expects continued appeal to all different age groups, from tweens and teens to their parents and adults in general. “I think it took a lot of adults back to their high school years,” Courtney said. “I think it reminded a lot of people of those John Hughes films from the ’80s. "So moms can watch this movie with their daughters. Younger kids can watch this movie because it’s about their age group. There's just something so real and down to earth about every single one of these characters that pretty much anyone who watched it can find themselves in one of our characters in the movie.” Courtney relates very
strongly to Lee’s character. The actor is the youngest of four siblings, with a sister and two brothers. He also shares personality traits with Lee. © (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times ) Actors Joel Courtney, left, Jacob Elordi and Joey King try out a motorcycle racing game at the Hollywood Dave & Busters in 2018, the year "The Kissing Booth" came out. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times ) “We're both just absolute goofballs, and we love a good time and we love with our whole hearts,” he said. “And when that goes well, it's the most joyful thing in the world, and when it goes badly it hurts like nothing else is hurt. Lee feels with his entire being. And he's very empathetic and Elle’s his ride-or-die.” Director Vince Marcello, who also co-wrote the sequel, felt that Courtney connected with Lee's character the moment he watched the actor read his lines. "I was struck by his ability to find authentic, childlike joy in any moment," Marcello said. "This is key to Lee’s character. Lee is a child — becoming a man but still
desperately clinging to his adolescence. 'The Kissing Booth' is a coming-of-age story but not just for Elle. Lee and Noah both struggle through their own battles to become the young men they were meant to be. "There were no false moments in this journey for Joel, who was able to capture a youthful innocence" despite being in his early 20s, the director said. In life, Courtney considers himself to be a balance between Elle and Lee, and says Lee has taught him some helpful lessons for life and his career. “I've learned to love people and to kind of take them where they are,” the actor said. “Circumstances being what they are, like if someone's having a bad day, that's OK, just be kind, be patient. Don't expect them to just change their
attitude just because they're around you. I think that's kind of one of the things that Lee expects is everyone to be as happy as he is all the time.” Marcello noticed the strong transition that Courtney made as Lee between the two films. "In this first film, Lee is in the unenviable position of being the sensitive younger brother of Noah Flynn, the most popular guy in school," he said. "In his senior year and moving on to college, he has the chance to come out of Noah’s shadow and into his own. This is such a relatable scenario for anyone who had to follow in the footsteps of a successful older sibling. Joel navigates this transition so beautifully while still holding onto the essential characteristic that makes Lee who he is." Marcello also noticed real growth in Courtney's acting process. "From the start of 'KB1,' Joel was always fun-loving but also a prepared and disciplined actor on set," he said. "In 'KB2,' however, I saw him truly come into his own. I was grateful and so impressed as I watched him prep, rehearse and execute difficult scenes that ranged from comedy to drama to action, and all with passion, focus and intensity. "In fact, his entire awareness and appreciation of the filmmaking process moved to another level, all while
remaining an absolute delight to work with." Courtney's future plans include a film with Lionsgate called “Jesus Revolution,” costarring Jim Gaffigan and set to begin production in 2021. “The story’s about this group of kids in the countercultural movement in the late 1960s, the hippie movement, and they learn about themselves, they learn about life and faith, and they come into themselves,” he said. “And they grow a lot during those crazy, crazy times." As for a third “Kissing Booth,” Courtney would be on board with returning to the franchise. “For the record, I would be totally down,” he said. “I would be in full support of doing it." But, he said, with the world in such a "crazy commotion" right now, it's not the time to be traveling or working in large groups, like on a film set. And it's up to Netflix to work out those details. "But if there were a petition from fans after the second one to do a third, I would totally sign it.”
What To Stream This Weekend: Netflix's 'The Kissing Booth 2,' Dave Franco's 'The Rental'
Dan Stevens, Alison Brie, Sheila Vand and Jeremy Allen White play guests whose Airbnb getaway turns deadly in "The Rental," directed by Dave Franco. USA TODAY Theaters are still closed, but new streaming movies are coming to entertain you and your family during socially distanced times. This weekend, actor Dave Franco unleashes his chilling directing debut; a young-adult rom-com sequel arrives on Netflix; Rosamund Pike plays a scientific pioneer in a new biopic; a bunch of real-life singing fisherman get the cinematic treatment; and Orlando Bloom is a tortured soul in a British drama with religious overtones. If that's not enough to get you online and watching movies, the smartphone-friendly streaming service Quibi has unveiled its most star-filled project yet: Kevin Hart stars as a fictionalized version of himself in "Die Hart," an action comedy airing new chapters daily that finds the comedian going to Action Star School and taking lessons from a nutty instructor (John Travolta).
Ranked: Every horror movie of 2020 (including Dave Franco's 'The Rental') Missing movie theaters? Fill up the car and head to these drive-ins Here's a rundown of new movies hitting streaming this weekend, for every cinematic taste: Alison Brie stars as an Airbnb guest whose getaway is filled with paranoia and terror in the horror film "The Rental." (Photo: IFC FILMS) If you want a reason never to go on vacation again: 'The Rental' You might want to rethink that Airbnb reservation for when things get back to normal. In Franco's deeply freaky thriller, two partners (Dan Stevens and Sheila Vand) at a startup head off to celebrate their launch at a weekend getaway with their significant others (Alison Brie and Jeremy Allen White). An oddball house host, hidden cameras in the showers, unearthed secrets and a mysterious figure all factor into an entertaining and twisty vacation from hell. Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play "Radioactive" (July 24): Rosamund Pike stars as Marie Curie and Sam Riley plays husband Pierre in a biopic about her scientific work and discoveries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as well as their impact on the
world. (Photo: LAURIE SPARHAM) If you dig science nerds doing science stuff: 'Radioactive' Marie Curie seems like a pretty decent choice to get her own biopic, though this one's pretty dry unless you're really into radium and polonium. The drama digs into the game-changing advancements of Curie (Pike) and husband Pierre (Sam Riley), as well as her later work caring for soldiers during World War I. A bolder filmmaking choice, however, is how the film sets Curie's story aside for tangential episodes about how her discoveries factored into future events like the development of the atomic bomb and Chernobyl. Where to watch:Amazon Prime The arrival of new classmate Marco (Taylor Perez) makes senior year more interesting for Elle (Joey King) in "The Kissing Booth 2." (Photo: MARCOS CRUZ/NETFLIX) If you're down for going back to high school: 'The Kissing Booth 2' Clocking in at a hefty two hours and 12 minutes, this is the "Avengers: Endgame" of young-adult rom-coms, with seemingly as many characters but more dance video-game throwdowns. An ultra-cheesy bit of teen-movie comfort food, the sequel follows Elle (Joey King) in her senior year of high school navigating a long-distance relationship with boyfriend Noah (Jacob Elordi), best friendship with pal Lee (Joel Courtney) and the arrival of an attractive new classmate (Taylor Perez). Where to watch:Netflix "Fisherman's Friends" stars Sam Swainsbury (from left), James Purefoy, Dave Johns and David Hayman as Cornish seafarers who also belong to an unlikely boy band. (Photo: SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS) If you love 'The Commitments' and sea songs: 'Fisherman’s Friends' A familiar underdog narrative is afoot, but at least it sounds peppy in this musical dramedy based on a true story. A young London music executive (Daniel Mays) is pranked by his co-workers into signing a group of singing fisherman from Cornwall, a situation complicated when the city slicker falls for the daughter (Tuppence Middleton) of the group's gruff leader (James Purefoy).
But it turns out these shanty-loving dudes are appealing enough to score a hit record – and win your heart, to boot. Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Fandango Now Alec Secareau is an ex-soldier and Carla Juri is a young woman caring for her mother in the horror film "Amulet." (Photo: ROB BAKER ASHTON/MAGNET RELEASING) If you're creeped out by noises in the attic: 'Amulet' British actress Romola Garai goes behind the camera to direct her first feature, a devilish horror flick that'll get under your skin. An ex-soldier (Alec Secareanu) is recruited by a nun (Imelda Staunton) to help a young woman (Carla Juri) with the upkeep of her decrepit house. Her elderly mother lives upstairs and is scary as all get out, though the truth of what's exactly going on is revealed during a slow-burn chiller that really sneaks up on you. Where to watch: Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango Now Josh Hartnett plays a Canadian investigative journalist trying to unearth corruption in the crime drama "Most
Wanted." (Photo: SABAN FILMS) If you crave journalism flicks and drug-addict dramas equally: 'Most Wanted' Josh Hartnett headlines this drama based on real events as a Canadian investigative journalist who travels to Bangkok to interview an imprisoned drug addict (Antoine Olivier Pilon). Jailed as part of a heroin bust, the junkie holds the truth about the corruption that the reporter wants to expose but also puts his family's life in danger. At over two hours, the engaging film wears out its welcome a smidge but does give comedian Jim Gaffigan a chance to really break type as a shady Vancouver drug dealer. Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Fandango Now Orlando Bloom plays a construction worker traumatized by his past in the drama "Retaliation." (Photo: SABAN FILMS) If you're an Orlando Bloom completist: 'Retaliation' Bloom's a busy man this streaming summer, popping up in "The Outpost" and now in this moody film playing construction worker Malky, whose latest job is demolishing a church. When he sees a man from his traumatic past at a local pub, hard
feelings and repressed emotions are triggered in a big way, leading Malky down a vengeful path. The story's about as subtle as Malky's sledgehammer, but Bloom's a standout and the film deftly explores themes of sex abuse in the church amid a host of religious symbolism. Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Fandango Now Corbin Bernsen is a familiar face in the audaciously bad indie horror "A Deadly Legend." (Photo: GRAVITAS VENTURES) If you're needing a good laugh: 'A Deadly Legend' This excruciatingly bad horror film isn't a comedy, but you'll giggle just the same. A construction site to develop real estate property over an old summer campground unearths a mystical place where a witch covered in chains does eternal battle with a creepy evil demon ghost woman, with psychic-kid nonsense thrown in for some reason. Even worse, the flick wastes some familiar faces, including Judd Hirsch, Lori Petty and Corbin Bernsen, who plays the town's knower of all things kooky. Where to watch:Apple TV, Vudu, Fandango Now Autoplay Show Thumbnails Show Captions Last SlideNext Slide Read or Share this story: https://www.Usatoday.Com/story/entertainment/movies/2020/07/24/the-rental-the-kissing-booth-2-more-new-movies-stream/5481877002/
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