This August brought in a new romantic drama based on the best-selling novel “The Map That Leads to You” by J.P. Monninger. Fresh out of college, Heather (Madelyn Cline) is on her next big adventure, a summer in Europe with her friends, Amy (Madison Thompson) and Connie (Sofie Wylie). Upon landing, the trio catches a train to their Airbnb, and this ride leads to chance encounters for all the girls, especially Heather, as she meets her soon-to-be love interest, Jack, played by KJ Apa.
When Jack climbs above her onto the luggage racks to take a nap, they soon engage in flirty banter and bond over their shared taste in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises,” which bears a slight resemblance to some of the events that unfold in the film.
Soon after their landing in Europe, the girls each meet a boy, and then proceed to go on a night out with them. Amy, notably, ends up being screwed over by the guy she meets on the train, showcasing exactly why these lessons are so important.
While some plot points veer towards being quite implausible, Madelyn’s performance inevitably saves much of the film. Madelyn’s performance proves to be an honest depiction of what it truly means to be young, dumb, and in love. However, there are times in the film that would make you wonder whether these characters were ever taught the concept of being wary of strangers.
Nevertheless, the mindless decisions don’t end there, Amy and Connie, along with Connie’s new beau, Raef, book a flight back home, leaving Heather alone in Europe with a guy she just met.
Questionable decisions aside, thankfully, the remainder of the trip goes well for Heather as she and Jack experience a whirlwind romance you only see in movies, sparking an emotional journey of self-discovery for both leads. However, lies, kept secrets, and arguments threaten the future of their relationship.
One of the film’s most promising aspects, besides the lead actors’ stellar chemistry, is Jack’s emotional journey involving a mission to visit the many landmarks penned in his great-grandfather’s WWII journal.
Director Lasse Hallstrom takes viewers on a journey that makes for stunning visuals of many historical locations in places including Spain, Portugal, and Italy, with Jack narrating each destination with the help of said journals.
As much as the film aims to create emotional depth through these scenes, it is difficult to truly remain invested in this aspect of the storyline, as you only get a glimpse of this relationship between Jack and his great-grandfather through these brief excerpts.
The film would’ve greatly benefitted from a deeper look into his great-grandfather’s experiences, perhaps through flashbacks or, at the very least, a photo or two of his great-grandfather. This would not only create emotional depth for his character, but it would also add a lot of depth to the film as a whole.
Aside from this, viewers can enjoy the blossoming relationship between Heather and Jack as they experience so much of what the world has to offer. Their relationship, though a glorified Wattpad story at times, is worth watching for the cinematography and the actors’ respective performances.
“The Map That Leads to You” is available now on Amazon Prime Video.
