'Always Be My Maybe' is overshadowed by the Keanu-ssance

Always Be My Maybe, the recent Netflix film starring Randall Park and Ali Wong is a pretty conventional romantic comedy in a lot of ways. It's a tried and true formula -- boy and girl go from being childhood friends to lovers to friends to lovers again. In fact, the story could work with a couple of any race.

But this is a mainstream rom com starring to two Asian people, and so therefore it is a rarity and an advance. And the fact that the narrative is not an exceptional one or an elevated fairy tale (like Crazy Rich Asians) is something of a stealth triumph as well.

There is subtle diversity throughout the film, even a trans character pops up if its no big thing. The entire affair lowkey and perfectly suited for viewing at home.

And even if it's tonally a little jarring -- the more serious moments don't always play as well as the broader comedic ones -- it's a charming little trifle, which also will for better or worse also contribute to the Keanu-ssance we're currently living in.

I have mixed feelings about the Keanu Reeves extended cameo in this film as a wacko version of himself who is dating Wong's character. Reeves is riveting, totally reveling in the parody of his public persona but also showing new shades as a comic actor I haven't seen from him before. The trouble is his sudden appearance suddenly spins what was a fairly grounded romance into a more surreal territory.

And then he disappears from the narrative abruptly and unrealistically -- I like when the film had Reeves' suddenly dropping hints of being an egomaniac, but his eventual eruption would have spoiled the fun of a more high concept comedy: what if your dream girl met and started dating Keanu Reeves.

So when Reeves leaves (see what I did there?) you feel his absence and the more unpredictable movie he suggested is now gone too, and we settle into the familiar territory of the 'lead character must change fundamental personality character trait unrealistically in order to show they are willing to sacrifice for love' stuff.

I feel, more realistically, people don't change much and their success of failure in love has more to do with find a person who can tolerate or even love your flaws vs. someone fixated on them. This is one of those movies where both leads are endlessly charming but who I never really bought as a couple with chemistry.

It actually would make sense if Wong's character, established as an extremely career driven celebrity, would be far better suited for a relationship with Reeves. And as cute as it often is, the movie just don't work hard enough to sell us on some of its plotting.

And yet I am thrilled it exists, that despite the loud chorus of haters, concerted efforts to finally start having more representation are still ongoing and going strong. I know there is a lot of bile out there about projects like these being p.c. culture run amok.

But those folks have never had to suffer through the indignity of seeing their culture be virtually invisible in one the most if not the most influential media on the planet,