Ali Wong stars as culinary superstar Sasha Tran, who puts her glitzy Los Angeles lifestyle on pause to return to her native Bay Area to open up a new restaurant. But while on this three-month excursion, a temporary detour ahead of her impending nuptials (to Daniel Dae Kim as her pretentious fiancé), she bumps into Marcus, played by Randall Park, her childhood bestie who was also the guy she lost her virginity to in the back of his Corolla. Wong and Park also co-wrote the script with Michael Golamco. To Sasha’s surprise, Marcus is still driving the same car, living in his dad’s house, and playing in coffee shops with his high school band. It’s like time has stood still for him almost 20 years later, while Sasha’s life has accelerated. But it’s all good, because even though the two have significant others (Marcus has latched on to a hippie, spam-loving girlfriend) and couldn’t be more different now, you just know that by the end of this film something will bring them together. True to that same rom-com film formula, though, other people get in the way at first, even after Sasha’s groom-to-be predictably bails on her. Enter one very sexy Keanu Reeves. Shout out to Rich Delia’s impeccable casting, which makes this appearance perfect.
Since the release of Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians, the question that’s loomed over the media landscape has been just how the film industry will proceed when it comes to tackling issues of representation. Every aspect of Always Be My Maybe that stews in the realm of mediocrity is given a little boost by points of cultural specificity. For instance, one of the causes of tension between Marcus and Sasha is his disdain for the haute cuisine-style food she makes, citing it as a way of making Asian food trendy for white people instead of actually making good Asian food. The two leads’ relationships with their parents also not only extend beyond stereotypes of tiger mums and the model minority myth, but dig — on a shallow level — into the nuances of how expectations of what is owed and expected can change between first- and second-generation parents and children. As small a detail as it may seem, it’s still extremely novel to see a mainstream film acknowledge that Asian-American culture isn’t as monolithic as it always seems to be portrayed. It’s the kind of thing that sets Always Be My Maybe apart from its otherwise formulaic plotting, with a little additional help from the all-around terrific cast.
If you look underneath the themes of Asian American culture and romance you’ll find messages of success (specifically questions around what really makes one successful) and what’s really important in life. This is a film that may force you to think about your life as viewers may see a lot of themselves in either the characters of Sasha or Marcus. Always Be My Maybe is entertaining from start to finish and is one of the better romantic comedies I’ve seen in recent years. It wouldn’t be a romantic comedy without a feel good ending, but this one has a bit of an extra sentimental twist that may have you reaching for the nearest tissue box. Overall, it is a barrier-breaking piece of work that will hopefully mean more Asian American stories being told on TV and in film. It will also be interesting to see what’s next for Ali Wong and Randall Park as the two showed they have what it takes to write, produce and star in high quality productions that resonate with diverse audiences.
Since the release of Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians, the question that’s loomed over the media landscape has been just how the film industry will proceed when it comes to tackling issues of representation. Every aspect of Always Be My Maybe that stews in the realm of mediocrity is given a little boost by points of cultural specificity. For instance, one of the causes of tension between Marcus and Sasha is his disdain for the haute cuisine-style food she makes, citing it as a way of making Asian food trendy for white people instead of actually making good Asian food. The two leads’ relationships with their parents also not only extend beyond stereotypes of tiger mums and the model minority myth, but dig — on a shallow level — into the nuances of how expectations of what is owed and expected can change between first- and second-generation parents and children. As small a detail as it may seem, it’s still extremely novel to see a mainstream film acknowledge that Asian-American culture isn’t as monolithic as it always seems to be portrayed. It’s the kind of thing that sets Always Be My Maybe apart from its otherwise formulaic plotting, with a little additional help from the all-around terrific cast.
If you look underneath the themes of Asian American culture and romance you’ll find messages of success (specifically questions around what really makes one successful) and what’s really important in life. This is a film that may force you to think about your life as viewers may see a lot of themselves in either the characters of Sasha or Marcus. Always Be My Maybe is entertaining from start to finish and is one of the better romantic comedies I’ve seen in recent years. It wouldn’t be a romantic comedy without a feel good ending, but this one has a bit of an extra sentimental twist that may have you reaching for the nearest tissue box. Overall, it is a barrier-breaking piece of work that will hopefully mean more Asian American stories being told on TV and in film. It will also be interesting to see what’s next for Ali Wong and Randall Park as the two showed they have what it takes to write, produce and star in high quality productions that resonate with diverse audiences.
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