Forced drama, less laughs in ‘Kissing Booth’

Joey King (left) and Joel Courtney

If your best friend forbade you from getting interested in his hot older brother—
who’s also interested in you—what would you do?

That’s the unenviable dilemma of outgoing teenage sweetheart Elle (Joey King), who’s never been in an intimate romantic relationship, in the Netflix film, “The Kissing Booth.”

She has, however, a platonic bond with her male bestie, Lee (Joel Courtney), since they were born on the same day at the same hospital, and are practically inseparable.

But, here’s the thing: Lee’s popular jock brother, Noah (Jacob Elordi), gradually becomes part of their shrinking world.

Elle has always known Noah, but she’s kept from entertaining thoughts of liking the slightly older guy too much, because of “the rules”—she and Lee made up nonnegotiable guidelines when they were kids. And one of those states that relatives are romantically off-limits.

Believable teens

Based on the Wattpad novel by Beth Reekles, “The Kissing Booth” is written and directed by Vince Marcello, no stranger to teen-centric projects.

The movie presents believable teenagers, with redeemable and annoying traits.

The rom-com shows Lee as petty and immature for wanting to stick to their sometimes outdated rules, while Noah has his own constricting terms imposed on Elle, and is needlessly overprotective.

Soon enough, there’s considerably less laughs and more contrived drama, and the three are trapped in a bizarre love triangle—although one rapport is clearly nonromantic.

The film can get grating from time to time. But, then again, it doesn’t truly take off in terms of excitement. Most of its teens are hard to like, like present-day takes on decades-old school archetypes, but minus the distinct appeal.

Jacob Elordi plays the popular kid, Noah

Weird dynamic

Does this weird dynamic fascinate, at least? It does, somehow, which could be anchored on real childhood or teen relationships that feel selfish or suffocating—that’s truthfully portrayed here.

Its title refers to Lee and Elle’s fund-raising project that helps illustrate the campus culture. But, save for the three gorgeous main actors, few of the other schoolmates look like actual teens, and so there’s a recurring artificiality that keeps the viewer from suspending disbelief.

There are remakes of ’80s songs in its soundtrack, too, but these lack the emotional resonance of the originals.

Still, an icon from the era, Molly Ringwald, makes some sort of impact, as the kind mom of the perpetually squabbling boys.