Along for the Ride (2022)

Along for the Ride is the kind of romance that sneaks up on you—not with grand declarations, but with the soft glow of midnight boardwalks, small dares, and the quiet relief of finally being seen. Sofia Alvarez gives this coming-of-age story a cozy, seaside-dream atmosphere where Emma Pasarow’s tightly wound Auden and Belmont Cameli’s guarded Eli feel less like movie archetypes and more like two real kids learning how to breathe again. It’s sweet and emotionally sincere, with a surprisingly warm sense of community among the girls Auden meets, making the film feel like a gentle summer you can step into for a while. If you’re looking for high drama or sharp-edged twists, this may be too mellow, but if you want something charming, heartfelt, and deeply relatable about growing up a little before you move on, it’s an easy ride to say yes to.

Along for the Ride wants to be a gentle, late-night coming-of-age romance about two insomniacs finding each other and finally letting youth be a little messy and fun. The problem is it often plays like a checklist of familiar teen-movie beats—cute nocturnal adventures, soft trauma reveals, inevitable misunderstandings—without much surprise or real heat to make it feel lived-in. If you need your romances to crackle with chemistry or your drama to dig deeper than “pleasantly wistful,” this may feel bland and low-stakes. That said, it’s easy to watch, looks nicely summery, and if you’re in the mood for a calm, comforting vibe over originality, it’ll do the job.