Review: ‘Always Be My Maybe’ Not Perfect, but Sprinkled with Gems Along the Way

Netflix’s latest installment in their determined effort to revitalize the rom-com is “Always Be My Maybe.” While it offers nothing innovative to the genre, it is sprinkled with memorable gems along the way.

Ali Wong and Randall Park star as Sasha and Marcus, respectfully—childhood friends who hook up once and lose touch for 16 years. As they grow up, they take vastly different paths in life. Marcus ends up as a stoner still living at home with his dad, and Sasha becomes a celebrity chef. Her newest ventures brings her back to their home town of San Francisco, where she is reunited with Marcus. 

The story here is nothing new. Boy and girl have mutual, yet unspoken attraction to each other. Boy loses girl. Girl comes back and sparks fly again. What elevates this movie from hum-drum rom-com are its performances. 

Wong and Park are a dream leading duo. Wong, coincidentally, first gained notoriety on Netflix through her outrageously funny stand-up comedy specials. Park is most well-known for his starring role on the ABC show “Fresh off the Boat,” and a scene-stealing role in “Ant-Man and the Wasp.” Unfortunately, the talented stars’ skillsets are completely underutilized. As comedians, Wong scores when she goes for big physical comedy. We see little moments of that in this film, such as when a teenaged Sasha mumble-sings along to a song in the car with Marcus. Park shines with subtle, sarcastic humor. He is given a number of funny lines of dialogue, but no moment is truly memorable. As cowriters of the movie, it is disappointing that their roles were not juicier. But Wong and Park work well with what they are given, and both are pleasantly charming in their roles.  

While this movie spotlights Wong and Park as two actors deserving of more than Hollywood has previously given them, the role of scene-stealers unfortunately goes to two other actors. The first would be Michelle Buteau as Veronica — Sasha’s assistant and friend with a sense of humor drier than the Sahara Desert, who also happens to be very pregnant. And if you have heard anything about this movie so far, it is likely about Keanu Reeves’ delightful cameo as heightened version of himself. Reeves clearly has a blast reveling in the absurd silliness of this alternate Keanu. I might be as bold to say that Wong and Park have more chemistry with Reeves than they do each other. 

While “Always Be My Maybe” doesn’t quite deliver on expectations, it’s a refreshing and fun viewing experience, worthy of a Saturday night in.