Title: All the Bright Places
MPAA Rating: TV-MA
Director: Brett Haley
Starring: Elle Fanning, Justice Smith, Alexandra Shipp
Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

What It Is: After tragedy strikes Violet (Fanning) she’s not exactly the same. Grieving at the loss of her sister she’s standing on the edge of the very same bridge that claimed her. When Finch (Smith) spots her he tries his very best to talk her off the edge. As the two trek out on a school project to study “wonders” of their current state Indiana. As a friendship and relationship blossom perhaps both of them will bloom into better less jaded and depressed people.

What We Think: Oh man! As we know I love the cheesy rom-com and sometimes I can be a bit too easy on them. Yeah, I’ll tell you right now that’s not going to be the case here. Justice Smith and Elle Fanning have a spark but for me, it doesn’t fully work. Being based on a novel makes it so there’s plenty of source material. It’s too bad the adaptation does nothing with any of it. I KNOW Haley is a good director as his previous three films including Hearts Beat Loud and I’ll See You in My Dreams are just fantastic. Personal, small, and reflective films. They are ones who’s bones are here but the muscle mass just isn’t enough.

Our Grade: C-, Man this is back to back mediocrity from Netflix. Listen I like a cheesy Netflix rom-com as much as the next guy. But I also prefer one that’s better written and better directed than this one. Its easy access (on Netflix) makes this one to watch if you’re willing to go for the ride. Some will find this a two hanky movie while others may roll their eyes back further than The Undertaker.