The Kissing Booth 2: A Sequel Tackling Teen Relationship Realities
In “The Kissing Booth 2,” the sequel to the popular teen rom-com, Elle Evans (Joey King) and her best friend Lee Flynn (Joel Courtney) are navigating their senior year of high school, eagerly anticipating the next chapter of their lives. Meanwhile, Noah Flynn (Jacob Elordi), Lee’s older brother and Elle’s heartthrob from the first movie, is thriving at Harvard, maintaining his connection with Elle through video chats and late-night texts. However, their long-distance relationship faces challenges, exacerbated by Elle’s decision to give Noah more freedom, which he readily embraces. As the story unfolds, Elle finds herself in a series of awkward situations, capturing attention and attracting the affections of the most attractive guys in Southern California.
Back in 2018, the film adaptation of Beth Reekles’s novel became a massive hit on Netflix, signaling the streaming platform’s renewed interest in the teen rom-com genre. Unlike many fleeting trends, “The Kissing Booth” boasted a dedicated fanbase even before its release, primarily consisting of Wattpad users. Its success seemed almost predetermined. Despite scathing reviews from critics, the sequel, and surprisingly, a third installment, were immediately greenlit.
The original film, centered around a “Kissing Booth” where conventionally attractive students kissed their “ordinary” classmates for money, faced justified criticism. In an era of heightened awareness regarding objectification and sexism, it seemed jarring that such a morally questionable concept was still being produced. Even more surprising was the fact that, amidst a plethora of entertainment options, young audiences gravitated towards a story filled with tired “romantic” tropes.
Adapting to Modern Sensibilities
Whether influenced by the lack of source material or the harsh critiques, “The Kissing Booth 2” attempts to align with contemporary values. Notably, Noah Flynn, who previously flaunted his physique and restricted Elle’s interactions with other guys, sheds his toxic masculinity and evolves into a more well-rounded character. Interestingly, Jacob Elordi, who plays Noah, had previously portrayed an abusive and toxic character in the first season of “Euphoria,” perhaps suggesting a form of karmic retribution.
Exploring Relatable Teen Issues
If we disregard the somewhat unnecessary love triangle, Noah and Elle’s relationship becomes a relatable depiction of the challenges faced by many teenagers in their first serious relationships: insecurity, boundaries, loneliness, and the fear of failure. Elle’s friendship with Lee also undergoes changes as he starts dating a girl who isn’t keen on sharing her boyfriend. This highlights another common teenage dilemma: how to navigate romantic relationships without jeopardizing friendships.
While the film’s two-and-a-half-hour runtime doesn’t fully justify the resolution of these simple conflicts, with an overly dramatic climax that awkwardly reintroduces the “Kissing Booth,” “The Kissing Booth 2” still manages to be more compelling than other Netflix teen hits like “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You,” which often replaces genuine teenage experiences with fluff and pretty visuals.