‘Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between’ is Proof That Teenage Struggles are Wrongly Portrayed in

By: Jordan Orenstein

4/25/23

Netflix’s Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between is a sad, cringe-inducing attempt at a modern romcom. Since the ‘90s and early 2000s, creating a romcom to live up to the expectations of films past is no easy feat. So if you enjoy characters with no connection and a plot that's weaker than a hundred year old woman, then this is perfect for you.

Jordan Fisher, who plays the main character, Aidan, took every bad and surface-level acting method from his Disney days and put them in a film that could have, potentially, had a deeper meaning. His co-star, Talia Ryder, who plays Clare, is an up and coming actress whose career could go downhill if future employers catch a whiff of this film.

Clare (Talia Ryder) is infatuated with Aidan (Jordan Fisher) in their last year of high school, but makes a pact with him that they would break up before college to avoid drama and broken hearts. This cliche and predictable plot line follows Aidan’s last chance attempt to convince Clare to stay with him and forget about their ‘breakup pact’. By planning one last legendary date the night before they leave, his acts of persuasion go ary when unexpected visitors turn it upside down.

This movie perfectly depicts why almost thirty year olds should not be playing teenagers. The two leading co-stars had absolutely no chemistry on screen and it showed. The cringe-worthy acting was embarrassing for both the audience and the actors themselves. When do teenagers ever break into song and dance? With unnatural movements throughout the film and awkward body language in an attempt to portray teenage hardships, there is no connection between those playing the characters and the lives of actual teens.

Also, the writing in this movie is no better than the acting itself. When you finally look past the sad attempt at conveying the struggles of a modern-day teenager, all you can see is a lack of depth for everyone involved in the film. The characters had no background or development throughout the movie, which goes back to how it was written as a whole. Not to mention the fact that the dialogue in this film felt heavily scripted and nothing like the common slang used by modern youth. It felt like I opened a book and skimmed through a few pages until I just skipped to the end.

If you're looking for a romcom to make you laugh, cry, and want to find love again, skip right past this film. There is nothing special or inspiring about this movie or its plot, and it will most likely irritate you until you fall asleep halfway through. I found more enjoyment sitting on my floor and staring at the wall than I did looking at my laptop while watching.

Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between, a Netflix release, is rated TV-14 by the Motion Picture Association of America for language and content. Running time: 82 minutes. One star out of four.