The Map That Leads to You, 2025.
Directed by Lasse Hallström.
Starring Madelyn Cline, K.J. Apa, Sofia Wylie, Madison Thompson, Orlando Norman, Josh Lucas, Karl-El Santos, JR Esposito, Marilyn Cutts, Giuseppe Schillaci, Diego Ross, and Eva García Montiel.
SYNOPSIS:
Heather’s European adventure takes a turn when she meets Jack-sparking an unexpected emotional journey neither of them saw coming.
For nearly an hour, it’s difficult not to wonder in agitation if anything is actually going to happen in director Lasse Hallström’s The Map That Leads to You. Scratch that. Once it becomes clear that the only source of conflict between the film’s European vacationers falling in love is the typical contrast of one living by routine with plans for the future, and the other living in the moment to such a degree that even bringing it up sparks a small disagreement, it should give an idea of where this is headed.
It’s more that the film (written by Les Bohem and Vera Herbert, based on the book by J.P. Monninger) has no interest in getting into the real dramatic crux, as if they know it’s an exhausting, overdone, and emotionally manipulative trope. It’s a disease-of-the-week film that’s often trying to sidestep the disease part and delay it for as long as possible, presumably out of sheer embarrassment. The Map That Leads to You leads to hollow, sappy familiarity, albeit putting it off for as long as possible.
Heather Mulgrew (Madelyn Cline) and her besties (Madison Thompson and Sofia Wylie) are vacationing around Europe, celebrating freedom and the end of this phase of life before moving day into a New York City apartment and starting a new banking job. Along the way, everyone comes across men interested in them, with Heather attracting the attention of New Zealander Jack (KJ Apa), who can’t help but lightly flirt with her upon realizing that they are currently reading the same Ernest Hemingway book.
Jack isn’t necessarily on vacation, though. He is more drifting through Europe, visiting landmarks that his war veteran grandfather wrote about in his journal, searching for some catharsis. Heather insists to her friends that nothing romantic is blossoming, which changes quickly once they fall asleep together in a gondola overlooking a gorgeous view.
Yes, this means that the friend group routinely splits off from one another, which one would assume is risky, considering they are often going off with male strangers. Perhaps worse, the film makes light of this when one of Heather’s friends has all of her belongings stolen (including her passport), which becomes more of an opportunity for Jack to save the day. It’s not long before her friends have to go home, but suddenly, the practical stick-to-the-plan Heather finds herself willing to put off her flight at Jack’s request to stay and do more traveling together.
Aside from one briefly heated exchange with Jack expressing disdain for tourists taking selfies for social media clout rather than embracing the moment and being present, what’s here is nothing more than watching these two sightseeing their way through Europe, as if Amazon Prime is going to make some backend cash from anyone who purchases some flight tickets. There is at least half of a movie compressed into a third act and glossed over (with an illogical timeline of events that renders the ending confused), seemingly in favor of laid-back vacationing, which technically might fit the theme of being present, but doesn’t necessarily make for a compelling story.
As such, once the inevitable drama starts, it’s still hokey, even if less in viewers’ faces than usual. Outrageous behavior is forgiven all in the name of fear and misunderstandings when any sane person would have used simple, serious, and effective communication. Yes, there wouldn’t be much conflict then, but there already wasn’t much to begin with. This is frustrating since Madelyn Cline and K.J. Apa are otherwise giving naturalistic performances and, for the most part, the sisterhood also feels genuine without immature jealousy forced in. Then there are the sites and locales, which are obviously pleasing to look at. Unfortunately, The Map That Leads to You leads to nothing of interest.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Robert Kojder
