Always Be My Maybe

UK Release Date: 31 May 2019

Certification: 12

Director: Nahnatchka Khan

Cast: Vivian Bang, Michelle Buteau, Daniel Dae Kim, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves, James Saito, Karan Soni, Ali Wong

Rating: 44%

Keanu saves the movie.

Review:

Always Be My Maybe is nothing new, the story’s been done before and whilst there are a few comedic elements that make the movie enjoyable enough it isn’t a huge revitalisation on the rom-com genre or one that I think I'll ever revisit. 

Randall Park and Ali Wong in the two leads, as Marcus and Sasha, are charming and the chemistry between both actors is fine but the problem is that they aren't very funny - bar a couple of exceptions. Park and Wong are starring in a rom-com in Always Be My Maybe but the problem is, I wasn't at all invested in the relationship between Marcus and Sasha. I don't think the actors are entirely to blame for the lack of care about their characters as the script simply doesn't work. The supporting cast aren't interesting in the slightest. Whether it's Vivian Bang, Michelle Buteau or James Saito all of their characters honestly feel throwaway, holding no purpose in the movie's run time other than attempted laughs. 

On the other hand, Keanu Reeves is absolutely terrific. He plays a delusional version of himself in a glorified cameo and I loved every single one of the 14 minutes that he was on screen. He's absolutely hilarious - poking fun of himself and the movies he has appeared in. And when Reeves was on screen I was enthralled by the story and the characters of Always Be My Maybe.  Nevertheless the 40 minutes before and after Reeves' role I simply didn't care about the film. So whilst Keanu Reeves elevates the movie when he's on screen, I was craving for more when he wasn't.  

I quite liked the unique nature of the original tracks in Always Be My Maybe. The three songs from fictional band, Hello Peril, are fun especially 'I Punched Keanu Reeves' which plays during the credits. Although as seen previously every positive aspect of Always Be My Maybe comes side by side with a negative. Whilst the songs are catchy, it's an insignificant side plot that makes absolutely no sense in the movie's context. 

Ultimately, in my opinion I didn't think Always Be My Maybe was anything special. It's an amusing film to put on a Sunday night to unwind before the week begins but apart from that it's a mediocre rom-com.