REVIEW: Get Ready to Say Goodbye in The Kissing Booth 3

The Kissing Booth by author Beth Reekles debuted in 2012 and the story became an immediate hit with young adults. 2018 saw the arrival of the romantic comedy on Netflix and it was there that the story reached more than just book lovers and became a worldwide phenomenon. After 3 years and two movies, Netflix is prepping to release the final movie in the franchise, The Kissing Booth 3.

As fans prepare to say goodbye to their favorite characters, the ending may not live up to everyone’s expectations. In The Kissing Booth 3, Elle (Joey King) is avoiding the dreadful decision of whether to head to the University of California Berkeley with her best friend, Lee (Joel Courtney) or instead heading to Harvard with her boyfriend and Lee’s brother, Noah (Jacob Elordi). When her decision finally becomes public knowledge, Elle attempts to spend as much time with Lee and Noah before the summer is over. However, when Marco (Taylor Zakhar Perez) unexpectedly comes back into Elle’s life, she finds trying to balance friendships, love, and her own happiness much harder than she thought.

Unlike the last two films, King truly takes center stage in this one. This is the film Elle fans have been waiting for. Don’t get me wrong, Noah and Lee play a huge part of the film, but this one really allowed fans an inside look at the young woman and where her true happiness lies. The idea of focusing on what truly makes a person happy is the forefront of this film. Some of the gripes I had with the first two films remain in this one, such as Noah’s possessiveness and Lee’s habit of jumping to conclusions, but they are not as in your face as they once were. The focus remains on happiness and Elle making the decision that most makes her happy.

King, Courtney, and Elordi will definitely be missed as Elle, Lee and Noah. The three have a chemistry that no matter if they were filming as a trio or filming as a duo, you’re left engaged and even wanting more. Meganne Young returns as Rachel and is the one character I wish we had seen more of in this movie. I would have liked to have seen more development between Rachel and Elle before we said goodbye, but screenwriters, Vince Marcello and Jay Arnold, opted to focus on the trio’s relationship. Maisie Richardson-Sellers returns as Chloe Winthrop and is just as great this time around, especially now that we know she is merely a friend to Noah.

This film will definitely disappoint some fans as the ending is just not for everyone. In my opinion though, the ending had to happen the way it did. It felt like the characters had come full circle. While they are done with the series for now, who’s to say that there won’t be The Kissing Booth 4 somewhere down the road?

Grade: B