‘Outer Banks’ & ‘Riverdale’ Are Colliding in ‘The Map That Leads To You’

Fictional worlds collide in Prime Video’s newest romantic drama, The Map That Leads to You, which stars Riverdale’s KJ Apa and Outer Banks’ Madelyn Cline. Outer Banks is one of Netflix’s most popular shows, and Riverdale held its own during its seven-season run on The CW, and now the biggest stars to emerge from both series have come together in the film, and their chemistry is undeniable. Based on the novel by J.P. Monninger, the romantic drama follows Heather Mulgrew (Cline), a young woman traveling through Europe with her best friends Connie (Sofia Wylie) and Amy (Madison Thompson) before she starts a new job in New York. She encounters Jack (Apa), a free spirit wandering the world, and the two embark on an unexpected two-week whirlwind romance that leads to an emotional revelation.

The film is directed by Lasse Hallström, who also directed Dear John (2010) and Safe Haven (2013), with Vera Herbert from This Is Us and Les Bohem from Shut Eye as the screenplay writers. The film currently sits at a 44% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and a 61% from audiences, a typical response from critics and viewers to romantic dramas, so don’t let it put you off. It’s adventurous, romantic, and real, all a testament to Cline and Apa’s ability to draw viewers in and want to keep watching them fall in love and take on the unknown.

Madelyn Cline and KJ Apa Fall in Love in ‘The Map That Leads to You’

Madelyn Cline and KJ Apa are a pairing we didn’t know we needed until Prime Video decided to see what the rest of us were blind to. The duo gave a deeply moving and emotionally charged performance as Heather and Jack in the romantic drama. The film begins as Heather and her two best friends, Connie (Wylie) and Amy (Thompson), are on their way to Spain for a last girls’ trip before Heather begins her new life in New York. On the train ride to their destination, Heather meets Jack and the two bond over Hemingway and, just as it seems that Jack would just be considered a strange man she briefly encountered on her European trip, the two reunite and spend the rest of the trip traveling together.

At first glance, this romance seems likely to fizzle out quickly because the characters are opposites. Heather has a Type A personality; she’s someone who plans life and stresses about the idea of spontaneity. Jack is a Type B personality; he’s a free spirit who allows life to happen rather than trying to control it. As the film progresses, audiences can see how these characters influence one another organically. Their chemistry is strong, and that makes it easier for viewers to believe in this story and feel along with the characters. As the young couple enjoys romantic bliss, there’s an emotionally tragic secret that looms over their commitment to each other.

KJ Apa Delivers an Emotional Performance in the Gut-Wrenching Narrative in ‘The Map That Leads to You’

Amazon MGM Studios

Viewers are gradually given an exposition about Jack. As his feelings for Heather grow, Jack opens up about his wandering spirit, and as viewers, we learn that he’s traveling across Europe to visit places his grandfather wrote about in his journal. Heather, unexpectedly letting loose, joins him on his journey, and while on their next stop, Jack suffers an injury, leading to the revelation that his cancer has relapsed. It becomes the turning point in the film for viewers, and even though he was living in the moment, this ultimately shifts his perspective on his relationship with Heather. Heather, unaware of his illness, doesn’t understand why Jack is hesitant to plan for the future, and the two argue about how different they are.

After the argument and what Heather believes to be a breakthrough, they book tickets to fly back to the U.S. together, but Jack disappears and leaves Heather to board the plane alone. He ghosts Heather for months, and while viewers don’t see his perspective during their time apart, they do see that he waited at the airport to ensure Heather returned to her life. The expression alone on Apa’s face was one of surrender and the heartbreak that comes with it. He sacrificed his happiness with Heather to avoid feeling like a burden to her and spare her the inevitable heartbreak that his fate would bring.

A Divisive Rotten Tomatoes Score Doesn’t Stop ‘The Map That Leads to You’ From a Spot in Prime Video’s Top 10

Madeline Cline in The Map That Leads to You on Prime Video

Romantic dramas have always been hit or miss with film critics, but the average viewer can’t get enough of them, no matter how cliché or overdone the plotlines may be. The Map That Leads to You currently sits at the #2 spot on the U.S. Prime Video Top 10 chart. While critics have given the film an underwhelming 44% score, audiences across the country are tuning in to see Madelyn Cline and KJ Apa bring a new romantic narrative to life. Joining the likes of The Fault in Our Stars (2014), Me Before You (2016), and Five Feet Apart (2019), this film takes on a tale as old as time, one of lovers separated by tragic circumstances but set against the backdrop of picturesque European landscapes and seascapes.

Stories exploring love and heartbreak, deep-rooted relationships, and joie de vivre (“enjoyment of life”) will always captivate audiences as they remind them of their own humanity and reflect real life. From the performances to the beautiful locations, the film has defied critics as it’s allowed viewers to get lost in the escapism of cinema while still maintaining a firm grasp on reality.