The Map That Leads to You came to theaters on Aug. 20. It was released by Amazon MGM Studios. Courtesy of Irish Film Critic.
Heather meticulously plans her entire trip to Europe, as she does with every life event, and bristles at the word “spontaneous.” Jack wanders through Europe following nothing but his great grandfather’s journal, after a past health scare terrified him of not living in the moment. When the two meet, their personalities clash in the best way.
Prime Video’s “The Map That Leads To You” is a romance and drama that follows Heather Mulgrew (Madelyn Cline) on a post-collegiate girls’ trip with her best friends, Connie (Sofia Wylie) and Amy (Madison Thompson). On the train to Barcelona, Jack (KJ Apa) enters — or “climbs” — into the plot when he clambers up onto an overhead luggage rack to try to get some sleep, bemusing Heather, whose seat is right below. Jack strikes up a conversation, interrupting her reading, which she does not fail to point out teasingly. Their connection is strong and immediate as they banter back and forth: Jack, who cannot stop smiling, and Heather, who stubbornly stays collected. At the end of their conversation, however, she concedes, and lets out an infectious laugh ending the sweet interaction.
They part ways at the train station, as if never to see each other again, but Jack is persistent, and finds Heather later that night. Thus, the vacation and romance of their lives begins.
This film draws in audiences with both the breathtaking scenery and the authentic characters who travel through this land, navigating internal struggles and external pressures. Viewers can relate to Heather’s struggle to balance a future-focussed, structured life with the carefree spontaneity that Jack inspires in her. Meanwhile, Jack faces a serious and secretive problem that makes him avoid thinking about the future, even when it’s necessary.
Audiences resonate with scenes that display the crushing stress these issues produce. Heather needs to balance her career ambitions with her desire to travel and live whimsically. She wants to take pictures to commemorate the moment, but Jack fears that it distracts them from the experience. Heather wants Jack to start considering and planning for the future but Jack refuses to think past tomorrow. The uncertainty, risks and rewards the characters consider are all too familiar and frightening to audiences, giving them insight to both relate to and learn from. These tensions reflect a common experience of many of the younger generations’ lives, especially in an age dominated by social media, where it feels like there is an “obligation” to capture post-worthy pictures when we see something beautiful or do something cool.
Jack and Heather may possess different values, but at the core, their matched adventurous spirits, compassion and easy-going nature unite them on what becomes the trip of their lives.
The audience is transported into Jack and Heather’s world as they stick together through chaotic and fun experiences, falling deeper in love and learning from one another. It’s a sweet relationship that not only gives Heather and Jack an escape from their realities, but lets the audience get lost in the joy of traveling through Europe with a stranger.
The behaviors and dialogue are believable and entertaining, the sights are intriguing while serene, and the love is pure and admirable.
One component that gave this film so much of its authenticity was Cline’s acting. Every look, smile and sentence from Cline felt so natural. This gave her character depth, giving audiences the impressions that Heather had a vibrant life outside of what was shown on the screen. Heather won the audience’s hearts with her wit, care for her friends and genuine heart. She had flaws and sometimes didn’t make the perfect decisions, but those were parts of her character that viewers appreciated. Furthermore, one measure of a phenomenal actor is the ability to make viewers see the character rather than the actor or their past roles. Cline gave this role such uniqueness that all the audience could see was Heather and her multi-dimensional self while watching.
While the story begins strong with the meet-cute, Heather’s hilarious moments with her friends, and the giddy spark between her and Jack, critics argue that the middle and ending slow down and become less engaging. In Heather’s time alone with Jack, some excitement dies down, although there is still a lot of beauty to be found in their love and the deep conversations they have in a new city every day.
Heather’s viewpoints on life and its meaning were thought-provoking, but, occasionally, Jack’s character preached unrealistic virtues that seemed cliché. The theme of finding joy in travel, nature and spontaneity was touching, but the film misrepresented the consequences of this and didn’t show many gritty, harsh realities about society.
There are some movies where the soundtrack heightens the experience, as it encapsulates the essences of certain scenes perfectly. Songs or simple melodies become iconic in movies’ reputations. In this film, however, some moments had lackluster deliverance because there weren’t instruments or chilling lyrics to convey the emotions and drama. When there was music, the melodies were unfitting and unmoving, wasting the potential to further touch viewers’ hearts.
It is difficult to produce an interesting and realistic portrayal of modern love, but “The Map that Leads to You” excelled in doing so. It was a relaxing and feel-good watch that had viewers falling in love with all the different characters and of course, with the growing love between Heather and Jack. The element of exploring countless new settings perfectly matched the excitement and beauty of exploring a new person who would become a soulmate. Sincere acting, wholesome moments and funny dialogue were just some of the many components that resonated with audiences.
If you are in the mood to be swept away on a European vacation filled with laughter and an instantly strong, loving connection, this movie is the perfect next watch.
Rating: 4/5