Resort To Love Review: An Entertaining Black Romantic Comedy Retreat

Release date: July 29, 2021
Running time: 101 minutes
Directed By: Steven Tsuchida
Produced By: Alicia Keys, Maggie Malina, Jeremy Kipp Walker
Starring: Christina Milian, Jay Pharoah, Sinqua Walls, Christiani Pitts, Karen Obilom, with Jeryl Prescott Gallien, and Tymberlee Hill, Alexander Hodge, TJ Power, Sylvaine Strike, Kayne Lee Harrison

A romantic comedy about aspiring pop star Erica (Christina Milian) who ends up as the entertainment at her ex-fiancé’s wedding after reluctantly taking a gig at a luxurious Mauritius island resort while in the wake of a music career meltdown. She tries to keep their past relationship a secret from his bride-to-be Beverly (Christiani Pitts), but Erica rediscovers her feelings for her ex, Jason (Jay Pharoah), despite his brother Caleb's (Sinqua Walls) attempts to keep them from falling back in love. In this warm and funny romantic story that explores the bonds of love and family, the question soon becomes will Erica sing at Beverly's wedding - or her own?

Resort to Love is a by the books romantic comedy that doesn't do anything new, but is still a funny resort vacation.  But as you would expect from a movie about a singer, the film has some pretty good musical numbers.  Erica and a few of the other characters sing their own takes on some famous songs, and it was fun to hear these new renditions of some classic music.  And as you would expect with a movie produced by Alicia Keys, her music makes some prominent appearances (not that I complained at all, they were fitting references).  And I liked the characters and their determination for love.  The all black cast of successful, driven individuals was enjoyable, and I especially liked Sinqua Walls as the too good to be true brother.  

And although the film doesn't buck many trends, I did like that the Erica's "competition" was another driven character.  She had some great ambitions and was just an all around good person.  They didn't try to make her seem unbearable or too clingy; she was completely different from Erica but not in a bad way.  And despite the film being fairly predictable, there were a few fun surprises in the movie.  As the film starts to open up, you do get a lot of cute and funny parts.  There is a warmth to this film (probably due to the resort location) that is infectious, and a humor that will make you smile.  Sure Resort to Love is a relatively predictable romantic comedy, but it is an enjoyable one at least.  And after a year when many people couldn't make it to any sort of resort, this tropical vacation is an enjoyable excursion to take.

Resort to Love's all black cast, driven characters, and enjoyable humor make this a vacation that will leave a smile on your face. 

Rent it.

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Resort to Love is available on Netflix on July 29, 2021.