A Tourist’s Guide to Love Parent Guide
This love story feels familiar but it has more emotional depth than run of the mill romantic dramas.
Parent Movie Review
After being unexpectedly dumped by her boyfriend, Amanda Riley (Rachel Leigh Cook) is more than willing to take an extended business trip. She works for Tourista World Travel and the company is considering the purchase of a small tour business in Vietnam. It’s Amanda’s job to take a tour with Saigon Silver Star and decide if the purchase is in Tourista’s interest.
On the ground in Ho Chi Minh City (a.k.a Saigon), Amanda meets Sinh Thach (Scott Ly), the company’s handsome guide. Sinh soon challenges Amanda’s views of what tourism should be: she wants to see celebrated landmarks and Sinh wants his group to enjoy the real Vietnam. As he tells Amanda, “A tourist wants to escape life. A traveler wants to experience it.” Following Sinh’s freewheeling approach to travel opens Amanda’s eyes to a new way to see the world – and herself.
A Tourist’s Guide to Love isn’t a movie you watch for plot: the storyline sticks closely to the formula used in every other romantic film. The real reason to watch this movie is its setting. The Vietnamese vistas are beautiful and the insights into local culture and less well-known landmarks are eye-opening. This film will inspire viewers to add Vietnam to their Asian travel itineraries.
I was pleasantly surprised by this charming little film. Romantic stories are often tediously familiar and plagued with clunky dialogue and weak acting. A Tourist’s Guide to Love isn’t a cinematic masterpiece, but the story is sincere and the romance is based on more than just physical chemistry. Amanda isn’t only falling in love with Sinh; she also loves the person she becomes with him. For Amanda, love is a revelatory experience that illuminates potential paths for life and personal growth. The emotional richness of her journey is far more interesting than the simple “boy meets girl” plot that underpins most movie romances.
If you’re a romance fan who wants to keep things clean, this is the show for you. There are a handful of minor profanities, scenes of minor social drinking, and a few moments of passionate kissing. There are also powerful messages about personal growth, honesty, and family ties. Overall, this is a touching, open-hearted film that reminds us that love knows no boundaries.
Directed by Steven K. Tsuchida. Starring Rachael Leigh Cook, Scott Ly, Ben Feldman. Running time: 94 minutes. Theatrical release April 21, 2023. Updated January 11, 2024
Watch the trailer for A Tourist’s Guide to Love
A Tourist’s Guide to Love
Rating & Content Info
Why is A Tourist’s Guide to Love rated TV-PG? A Tourist’s Guide to Love is rated TV-PG by the MPAA for mild themes
Violence: None noted.
Sexual Content: Married couple kiss. A man and woman kiss passionately. A bare-chested man is seen in a swimming suit. A lesbian couple and their daughter are part of the tour group.
Profanity: The script contains five terms of deity and a minor profanity.
Alcohol / Drug Use: Adults drink alcohol with meals.
Page last updated January 11, 2024
A Tourist’s Guide to Love Parents' Guide
What attracts Amanda to Sinh? How does their relationship change the way she sees herself and her life? How does her widened perspective change her goals? Have you ever had a romantic relationship or friendship that has changed the way you saw yourself?
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