Following the Netflix release of Emily Henry's romantic comedy 'People We Meet on Vacation,' stars Tom Blyth (Alex Nilsen) and Emily Bader (Poppy Wright) shared insights in a Deadline interview. They discussed homages to 'When Harry Met Sally,' standout scenes like the road trip and Bamboula dance, and the joys of adapting the author's first book to screen.
In the interview, Blyth called 'When Harry Met Sally' a 'north star,' noting their characters differ from Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan but aim to capture similar emotional resonance. Bader agreed, hoping to evoke even a fraction of the classic's impact.
They highlighted the early road trip scene, an homage where Poppy charms the grumpy Alex. 'That’s the moment where she’s like, there’s so much more to this guy,' Bader said. Blyth added it shows Alex becoming 'Vacation Alex' as his shell cracks.
A new addition was the Bamboula’s dance sequence, choreographed by Maya Taylor with improvisations nodding to 'Charlie’s Angels.' Director Brett Haley, a cinephile, encouraged Blyth to embrace it fully.
As the first Emily Henry adaptation, expectations were high, but the book community proved supportive. Blyth, post-'Hunger Games,' appreciated fans' desire for a fresh take. Bader felt pressure after reading Goodreads reviews.
The film's emotional finale running scene was demanding. Bader sprinted despite a pulled quad from cycling shots, fitting Poppy's determination. Blyth took up running for Alex and enjoyed it. The soundtrack features Taylor Swift and Robyn.