The end of an era. The beginning of everything else.|Aug. 11, 2021|United Kingdom, United States|111 Min.|TV-14
Genre: Adventure;Comedy;Kids;Romance
Description: “The Kissing Booth 3” (2021) marks the end of Netflix’s much-discussed film series. The franchise initially drew criticism for its outdated attitudes toward its teenage characters and reliance on overused romantic clichés. Despite its flaws, the series managed to garner attention, thanks largely to Joey King’s heartfelt portrayal of the lead character, Elle Evans. However, even her charm couldn’t salvage the films from their glaring issues, including weak writing, poor pacing, and unconvincing green screen effects.
The third installment continues the story of Elle as she navigates her relationships with two brothers, Noah and Lee. While the second film made slight improvements, this final chapter amplifies the series’ weakest elements. Clocking in at 113 minutes, it feels overly drawn out, with a peculiar postscript attempting to deliver a sense of closure for Elle’s journey.
The central conflict revolves around Elle’s decision to choose between attending college with Noah or staying close to Lee. Shot back-to-back with its predecessor in South Africa (doubling for Southern California), the film struggles to break free from the franchise’s repetitive formula. Elle’s character remains defined solely by her relationships, leaving little room for her individual growth or identity.
Ultimately, “The Kissing Booth 3” concludes a series that never fully embraced its potential, offering a mix of clichés and melodrama. While it provides an ending for fans of the franchise, it doesn’t quite redeem the flaws that plagued it from the start.
Cast director: Hank Amos
Cast actor: Joey King, Jacob Elordi, Joel Courtney, Molly Ringwald, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Meganne Young
Original name: The Kissing Booth 3