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‘A Tourist’s Guide to Love’ Review: Rachael Leigh Cook Gets a Heart-Stamped Passport in a Conventional but Charming Rom-Com

A spontaneous trip to Vietnam offers a world of wonder and possibilities for a workaholic woman and her tender-hearted tour guide in this cute Netflix release.

By Courtney Howard

Courtney Howard

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A Tourist's Guide to Love. (L to R) Rachael Leigh Cook as Amanda and Scott Ly as Sinh in A Tourist's Guide to Love. Cr. Sasidis Sasisakulporn/Netflix © 2022

High-powered Los Angeles travel agent Amanda Riley ( Rachael Leigh Cook ) is used to going above and beyond for her clientele, but not necessarily for herself. She leads a safe, comfortable life, dedicating her talents to her job and her bestie boss Mona (Missi Pyle), while sharing a bland apartment with John (Ben Feldman), her equally boring accountant boyfriend of five years. However, her world turns upside down when John announces he’s planning to move across the country, putting their relationship on hold. Desperately seeking a change in scenery to get her mojo back, Amanda is sent on the vacation of a lifetime to Vietnam to secretly scope out a potential new business acquisition: a small, family-owned tour company that’s up for sale.

After experiencing a slight fish-out-of-water mishap at the airport, Amanda is greeted by her quick-witted tour guide Sinh Thach ( Scott Ly ) and his colorful bus-driver cousin Anh (Quinn Trúc Trán), who whisk her away to her hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Amanda’s tour group has the good fortune of visiting the country during Tet, the Vietnamese New Year celebration where everyone participates in traditional renewal rituals — letting go of the past year and opening themselves up to new prospects in the coming one. Yet as Amanda savors Da Nang and Ha Noi, learning to be a traveler rather than a tourist, she finds herself falling in love with Sinh, whose own plans to take over his uncle’s company throw a wrench into her sly scheme.

The film doesn’t allot much time to the supporting players on tour with Amanda, but they’re meaningfully used. A subplot in which Sam (Jacqueline Correa), her wife Dom (Nondumiso Tembe) and their teen daughter Robin (Morgan Dudley) rekindle their familial bond counters the heteronormativity of the central romance. While long-time marrieds/first-time honeymooners Brian (Glynn Sweet) and Maya (Alexa Povah) recede into the background, the arc of awkward college-bound vlogger Alex (Andrew Barth Feldman) makes a big impact in a short time. Perhaps it’s an idealized portrait, but it’s refreshing to see tourists not depicted as bumbling buffoons, disturbing landmarks or mocking rituals for comic purposes.

There’s a light feminist streak here, as both Amanda and Sinh save each other from despair at various points, while a callback that sees Amanda navigating chaotic city traffic as a pedestrian — thus showcasing her evolving confidence — is well-handled. However, the female characters’ relationships with each other are woeful. From Amanda’s nail technician to Sinh’s grandma, their primary topic of conversation usually revolves around a man. It also doesn’t help that Amanda spends very little time working on herself before jumping into another romance. Her goal should be independence, not codependence.

That said, Cook and Ly share sparkling repartee, best glimpsed in their walk-and-talks and seated chats. Their chemistry builds from well-earned, character-building moments, as they bonding over the Hoi An lanterns they float on the river, or detour to My Son Sanctuary. Cook makes Amanda an easy heroine to root for, suffused with strength, humor and vulnerability, while Ly radiates wit and tenderness, especially when digging into Sinh’s deeper layers. He also embraces the obligatory beefcake shot with verve, emerging from the ocean during their day at the beach in a gender-flipped play on Ursula Andress’ famous entrance in “Dr. No.”

In a film that inspires its protagonists to go off-book and take a less travelled path, it’s surprising that the filmmakers don’t take this advice to heart themselves. They not only rely on the safety of genre tropes, they also don’t trust the audience to figure out any underlying sentiments, which are always expressed through dialogue. Though the journey taken with these characters doesn’t disappoint, it could use a little more fuel to propel them further.

Reviewed online, April 18, 2023. Running time: 94 MIN.

  • Production: A Netflix release of a Muse Entertainment, Head First, Ben’s Sister Production. Producers: Rachael Leigh Cook, Joel S. Rice. Executive producers: Jim Head, Lydia Storie, Steven K. Tsuchida.
  • Crew: Director: Steven K. Tsuchida. Screenplay: Eirene Tran Donohue Camera: Jon Keng. Editor: Lauren Connelly. Music: Jina Hyojin An, Shirley Song.
  • With: Rachael Leigh Cook, Scott Ly, Ben Feldman, Missi Pyle, Quinn Trúc Trán, Glynn Sweet, Alexa Povah, Jacqueline Correa, Nondumiso Tembe, Morgan Dudley, Andrew Barth Feldman.

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“A Tourist’s Guide to Love” is as harmless as its blandly forgettable title would suggest. It’s not quite a Movie to Fold Laundry To, because the scenery is quite lovely, so you’ll actually want to pay attention. But it is a pleasant escape if you’re seeking lazy Saturday afternoon viewing.

Rachael Leigh Cook brings her perky rom-com presence to this made-for-Netflix movie, which checks all the boxes you’d expect from such a slick and glossy example of the genre. Slapstick comedy, fish-out-of-water gags, wacky supporting characters, copious shopping montages, a love triangle, a secret to be revealed and a last-minute dash to say “I love you”—they’re all there, but this time they’re set against the backdrop of present-day Vietnam, which gives “A Tourist’s Guide to Love” an unusual feeling of novelty.

Director Steven K. Tsuchida , a TV veteran, was also behind 2021’s “ Resort to Love ,” another Netflix romantic comedy set in a picturesque vacation destination. This is pure formula, but the leads have such a sweet chemistry with each other, and the locations are so enticing, that you may as well just surrender.

Cook stars as Amanda Riley, an uptight, Los Angeles-based travel agent living a safe and predictable existence with her boring accountant boyfriend, John ( Ben Feldman ). Amanda’s boss (and apparently only friend), Mona ( Missi Pyle ), insists John is going to propose to her. Instead, he tells her he’s taking a job in Ohio and putting their relationship on hold. (Julia Shiplett makes the most of a brief supporting role as Amanda’s unimpressed manicurist.)

Stunned, Amanda agrees to Mona’s suggestion that she travel to Vietnam undercover to scope out a local tour company with the possibility of her firm buying it. This is also her chance to eat-pray-love her way out of heartache. Plus, she’ll be there for the annual Tet celebration, which just happens to be all about renewal. Would any of this actually happen in real life? No. Would a spoiled hotel heiress actually hit her head on a tree at a ski resort, suffer amnesia and fall for the hunky, widowed dad who owns a charming bed and breakfast? Probably not. We don’t watch these kinds of movies for realism.

And so Type-A Amanda becomes part of a tour group led by the handsome and soulful Sinh ( Scott Ly ) and his effervescent cousin, Anh (Quinn Truc Tran). Screenwriter Eirene Tran Donohue tries somewhat to flesh out the motley assemblage of fellow travelers, but she saddles them with awkward small talk, and no one is terribly interesting. The inordinately prepared Amanda insists on adhering to the itinerary because she wants to get the most out of her covert mission, but the easygoing Sinh takes a more spontaneous approach which—spoiler!—Amanda eventually learns to enjoy. Sinh also happens to have just the right profound thing to say for every occasion, which speaks to the flux in which Amanda finds herself. (Example: “A tourist wants to escape life. A traveler wants to experience it.”) Again, these are familiar types, but Cook’s likability softens her character’s pushy, impatient traits, and the charismatic Ly’s understated delivery makes Sinh’s platitudes less cheesy than they might sound.

Working with cinematographer Jon Keng and featuring plenty of shimmering aerial shots, Tsuchida makes every stop along the way seem vibrant and appealing, from the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City to the beaches of Da Nang to the verdant hills of Sinh’s home village. “Doing nothing feels very weird,” Amanda admits while lounging under an umbrella by the sea, and truer words were never spoken.

“A Tourist’s Guide to Love” is essentially a travelogue with a plot, but you might actually find yourself caring about whether these two attractive-but-extremely-different people end up falling for each other in the end.

On Netflix now.

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)

Rachael Leigh Cook as Amanda Riley

Scott Ly as Sinh Thach

Missi Pyle as Mona

Ben Feldman as John

Glynn Sweet as Brian Conway

Alexa Povah as Maya Conway

Jacqueline Correa as Sam Gonville

Nondumiso Tembe as Dom Fisher

Thanh Trúc as Anh

  • Steven K. Tsuchida
  • Eirene Donohue

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  • Lauren Connelly
  • Jina Hyojin An
  • Shirley Song

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Netflix is up to its old tricks again, bringing audiences more of what they crave with true crime documentaries like 'Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal' and love-based reality shows such as the recently returned 'Love is Blind' . Now, the platform is branching out into the world of scripted romantic comedies, and they're doing it with a bang.

Netflix has just dropped a trailer for their latest offering, 'A Tourist's Guide to Love'. Starring Rachael Leigh Cook and newcomer Scott Ly, this film promises to be a heartwarming and entertaining addition to the platform's already impressive lineup. The trailer already promises a heartwarming and scenic romantic comedy.

What day and time will 'Love Again' release? And everything you need to know about rom-com drama

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When will 'A Tourist's Guide to Love' release?

The production for 'A Tourist's Guide to Love' took place in Vietnam in April 2022, and it is set to premiere on Netflix on April 21st, 2023.

How to watch 'A Tourist's Guide to Love'

To watch 'A Tourist's Guide to Love', you can stream it on Netflix starting April 21st, 2023.

In the trailer for 'A Tourist's Guide to Love', we meet Amanda Riley (played by Rachael Leigh Cook), a travel agent whose relationship falls apart after her boyfriend moves away. She travels to Vietnam for a break and meets her tour guide, Sinh (played by Scott Ly). As they explore the beautiful countryside, Amanda seeks to rediscover herself and a romance begins to blossom between her and Sinh.

However, when her ex-boyfriend unexpectedly shows up, she must choose between her comfort zone and her newfound sense of adventure. Watch the official trailer below.

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A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)

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  1. A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)

    A Tourist's Guide to Love: Directed by Steven K. Tsuchida. With Rachael Leigh Cook, Scott Ly, Ben Feldman, Missi Pyle. An executive goes through an unexpected breakup, then accepting an assignment to go undercover and learn about the tourist industry in Vietnam.

  2. A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)

    A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Menu. Movies. ... Related lists from IMDb users. 2023 a list of 35 titles created 01 Jan 2023 2023 a list of 32 titles ...

  3. A Tourist's Guide to Love

    A Tourist's Guide to Love is a 2023 romantic comedy film directed by Steven K. Tsuchida and written by Eirene Tran Donohue. It stars Rachael Leigh Cook, Scott Ly, Missi Pyle, Ben Feldman, Nondumiso Tembe and Andrew Barth Feldman.. Filming took place on location in Vietnam in April 2022. The film was released by Netflix to mixed reviews on April 21, 2023.

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  5. Who Is In A Tourist's Guide to Love Cast?

    Traveling to a new place can be scary: new surroundings, new languages, new faces. In A Tourist's Guide to Love, Rachael Leigh Cook's Amanda is in exactly that position, heading to Vietnam on an Undercover Boss-style mission to decide whether her travel agency should purchase a smaller Vietnamese outpost. Of course, once she's there, she finds herself swept away by the country's ...

  6. A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)

    ksf-2 15 July 2023. After getting dumped in los angeles, amanda (rachael cook) takes a trip to vietnam, kind of a work-cation. She meets anh and sinh, whose family owns a tour guide company. Amanda is there to evaluate it, without letting them know.

  7. 'A Tourist's Guide To Love' Review: Rachael Leigh Cook ...

    With: Rachael Leigh Cook, Scott Ly, Ben Feldman, Missi Pyle, Quinn Trúc Trán, Glynn Sweet, Alexa Povah, Jacqueline Correa, Nondumiso Tembe, Morgan Dudley, Andrew Barth Feldman. Racheal Leigh ...

  8. A Tourist's Guide to Love movie review (2023)

    A Tourist's Guide to Love. "A Tourist's Guide to Love" is as harmless as its blandly forgettable title would suggest. It's not quite a Movie to Fold Laundry To, because the scenery is quite lovely, so you'll actually want to pay attention. But it is a pleasant escape if you're seeking lazy Saturday afternoon viewing.

  9. Watch A Tourist's Guide to Love

    A Tourist's Guide to Love. 2023 | Maturity Rating: 7+ | 1h 36m | Romance. Work brings an American travel executive to Vietnam, where a free-spirited tour guide helps open her eyes to a beautifully adventurous way of life. Starring: Rachael Leigh Cook, Scott Lý, Missi Pyle. Watch all you want.

  10. A Tourist's Guide to Love

    After an unexpected breakup, a travel executive (Rachael Leigh Cook) accepts an assignment to go undercover and learn about the tourist industry in Vietnam. ...

  11. A Tourist's Guide to Love

    An executive goes through an unexpected breakup, then accepting an assignment to go undercover and learn about the tourist industry in Vietnam.

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    A Tourist's Guide to Love. 1h 36m | Comedies. Work brings an American travel executive to Vietnam, where a free-spirited tour guide helps open her eyes to a beautifully adventurous way of life. Starring: Rachael Leigh Cook, Scott Ly, Missi Pyle. Watch all you want. JOIN NOW. Coming April 21.

  13. A Tourist's Guide to Love Cast, News, Videos and more

    A Tourist's Guide to Love Cast, News, Videos and more 2023 TV-PG 1:36:07 Work brings an American travel executive to Vietnam, where a free-spirited tour guide helps open her eyes to a beautifully adventurous way of life.

  14. Watch A Tourist's Guide to Love

    A Tourist's Guide to Love. 2023 | Maturity Rating: 7+ | 1h 36m | Romance. Work brings an American travel executive to Vietnam, where a free-spirited tour guide helps open her eyes to a beautifully adventurous way of life. Starring: Rachael Leigh Cook, Scott Lý, Missi Pyle. Watch all you want.

  15. 'A Tourist's Guide to Love': Release date and how to watch ...

    Published on : 22:54 PST, Mar 28, 2023. FOLLOW. Rachael Leigh Cook and Scott Ly in 'A Tourist's Guide to Love' (2023) (IMDb) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Netflix is up to its old tricks again, bringing audiences more of what they crave with true crime documentaries like 'Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal' and love-based reality shows such as the ...

  16. A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)

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