Directed by Lasse Hallström and streaming exclusively on Prime Video, “The Map That Leads to You” is a globetrotting young adult romantic drama based on J.P. Monninger’s 2017 novel of the same name. The film is a starring vehicle for Madelyn Cline, a 27-year-old actress with genuine talent but who is still looking for the right movie to showcase it. Unfortunately this isn’t quite it, although it’s certainly not because of her performance.

Cline plays Heather, a young woman from Texas enjoying the final days of a European vacation with her two best friends, Connie (Sofia Wylie) and Amy (Madison Thompson). While on an overnight train trip to Barcelona, Heather meets Jack (KJ Apa), a free-spirited New Zealander who is off on his own adventure. His great grandfather was a soldier during World War II who kept a journal chronicling his time stationed in Europe. To honor him Jack is traveling from place to place, visiting the sites his great grandfather wrote about.

The two don’t immediately hit it off. But after Jack follows the three girls to a Barcelona night club he and Heather start to connect. After bouncing around to a few more locations, Heather ends up leaving her friends and joining Jack on his pilgrimage. In true movie romance fashion, sparks begin to fly and the two end up falling in love. But equally true to formula, their relationship hits a snag which threatens to bring their fairytale romance to a heartbreaking end.

I won’t give away the ending, but no one will be surprised at where the story goes. And unfortunately, the journey there doesn’t really amount to much. There is some decent chemistry between friends and lovers, and the picturesque scenery is pretty to look at. And there is the movie’s lightly treated theme of finding your true self through the prisms of old memories and new relationships. But finding that core meaning is a lot harder than it should be.

The film’s performances are solid throughout, especially from Cline who squeezes everything she can from a fairly derivative character on paper. She’s especially good with Apa, clicking well with his understated charm. Cline also has great chummy rapport with Wylie and Thompson. Sadly Heather’s two friends are mostly superfluous except as plot pieces. They are mostly there to say things the story needs to be said and to listen when the story needs Heather to say something.

The final act throws in one of those annoying yet chronic movie conflicts that could be solved with just a little communication. It sets up the story’s predictable finish that leaves an unfortunate Nicholas Sparks aftertaste. But to Hallström’s credit, he doesn’t go full schmaltz, and he leaves a little bit to our imaginations. That, along with Cline’s confident and capable performance, helps to make “The Map That Leads to You” easy to watch and digest. Streaming now on Prime Video.

VERDICT – 2 STARS