A&E
To All the Rom-Coms I’ve Loved Before, This is the One New Netflix original is a refreshing take on modern teen romance. BY CECILIA MOHACSI PRINT CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF
From “The Kissing Booth” in May to “Set It Up” in June, Netflix has been on a roll with popular romantic comedies. But they aren’t finished yet. Netflix’s latest rom-com “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is as equally charming as it is entertaining, and it’s sure to melt the hearts of viewers. “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” released Aug. 17, is a refreshing take on modern teen romance. Based on the 2014 young adult novel by Jenny Han, it follows the love story between Lara Jean Covey played by Lana Condor and Peter Kavinsky played by Noah Centineo. Lara Jean would rather read romance novels than confess her feelings to crushes. But that’s what happens when her secret love letters get sent out, and her quiet life changes significantly. She and Peter team up in a fake relationship to make his ex jealous and help Lara Jean throw off the other letter recipients. What starts out as an innocent, undercover plan with Lara Jean’s rule of no kissing and Peter sending love notes, eventually gets complicated. Beyond the plot of the love story, Lara Jean’s life is something people of all ages, specifically high school students, can relate with. From the stresses
about driving and everyday life at school to changing relationships with her family as she copes with her older sister leaving for college and having a feisty little sister interfering, she is the typical high school student. Also, both Lara Jean and Peter are missing a parent after her mom died and his dad left after a divorce. This connects them, and they help each other talk about their emotions. Lara Jean and Peter’s relationship did not form without problems, but that’s what makes this movie more realistic. It is not the classic love at first sight or Cinderella story. The audience sees them grow together and work towards something real, falling in love with the characters along the way. A unique aspect of “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is that Lara Jean’s character was written specifically for an Asian-American actress, which is still not typically seen on today’s screens. But it does follow in the footsteps of rom-com "Crazy Rich Asians," an all-Asian cast, which also premiered in August. “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” charms viewers from the start, and it’s worth re-watching a second or even a third time. (Photo by MCT Campus)
IRISH FEST THE BEST OH YES Upon entering Crown The Irish Festival on labor day Center, the sight of green weekend was hotter than a water flowing from the meat pie and twice as good. fountains on either side of the
BY AVA RAWSON PRINT CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF
entrance served as a greeting. People were pouring in from every direction, funneling into the ticketbooth and out into the gated festival ground. There were white tents as scattered around Crown Center’s paths and parkways with food everywhere you looked and music coming from every direction. The first sight that greeted you after entering into the festival was one of the largest and
grandest tents behind the inlaid water feature of Crown Center. Inside were vendors selling history. Whether it be through ironic sayings plastered onto green shirts, jewelry, blessings or kilts, every booth inside the tent had something with a story. With over 40 vendors, half bringing the grand tent, and the other on the perimeter selling food from the open windows of trucks and over the counter of makeshift stands. Once tuckered out by walking through the maze filled with Rugby jerseys and herb filled candles, nothing hits the spot like a traditional meat pie. These portable pockets of meaty goodness are a perfect combination of the flakey pie pastry, slightly softened by the juice from the meat and the hearty. If meat
(Photo by Ava Rawson) (Photo by Ava Rawson)
pies don’t float your boat then there is always shepard’s pie, a meat pie with less meat and more potatoes, with some peas and carrots thrown in for good measure. In addition to the shopping and the eating there were ten stages and all were in use with different performers, dancers, musicians, puppeteers and many more but all Irish, all the time. The highlights were the Red Hot Chili Pipers, if not for their music than for their ingenious name. It seemed as though there was always music playing whether it be in the distance or right on top of you, the sounds of the electrifying and shrill call of bagpipes or modern musicians strumming gently on guitars singing a twist on classic Irish ballads. There was never a moment of silence, only good old Irish fun.
SEPTEMBER 2018
25
