It's been a while since Netflix has delivered a romantic drama film packed with passion, but “Lonely Planet” looks to be the next big surprise As a lover of heartfelt and emotional stories, I knew this one would leave a lasting impression Now that it's on streaming services, I believe it has a chance to make the top 10

This intoxicating romance drama has all the elements fans have been waiting for It centers on two luminous people who, despite their own problems, can't help but be drawn to each other Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth play their relationship well, despite the age difference between them

Early reviews, however, were quite poor Not all critics have fallen in love with their sweet romance (and sadly, it is supposed to earn a Rotten Score) But here's why I believe the critics are wrong, and why this new Netflix release is definitely worth watching this weekend

“Lonely Planet” follows Catherine (Dern), a reclusive novelist, who visits a writer's retreat in faraway Morocco in hopes of helping her break through a creative block During her stay, she crosses paths with a young man, Owen (Hemsworth), and what begins as a casual encounter soon develops into a passionate, life-changing romance Sounds simple, right? It is, and it works

This is a romantic drama that doesn't have to be complicated Catherine has problems back home and we learn about them through phone calls, but she is only there to finish the book There is no need for a hidden past or overly complicated backstory to make this love story compelling Owen is at the retreat with his girlfriend Lily (Diana Silvers) Again, their relationship appears simple It was an even better experience to see the two leads bond together in an unexpected way

Of course, this is not the best rom-com ever made, and it may fall flat for those who like a little juicy drama But “Lonely Planet” is about the transformative power of travel and how being with someone in a strange land can evoke deep-seated emotions The supporting characters are quickly forgettable and the plot predictable But Dern and Hemsworth bring a freshness to the genre They are two lost people who meet by chance, but their encounter is intoxicating in its slow-building tension

As noted above, critics have not been too fond of Netflix's new romantic dramas Lonely Planet does not yet have a Rotten Tomatoes score, but judging from early reviews, it may not get a certified fresh rating Personally, I don't think it deserves as much criticism as it has received It is a simple romantic drama, pleasant and easy to watch

As Alyssa Wilkinson of The New York Times says: “Beautiful people in beautiful places are fun to watch, but it takes more than just a pretty face to keep one interested for the long haul (or for a feature film)” Alyssa Christian of Next Big Picture, on the other hand, says the film is “visually entertaining” and “has moments of engrossing charm,” but “the romantic arc feels half-baked”

Thankfully, there is a positive review, which I couldn't agree more with; Collider's Tania Hussein says: Catherine and Owen's journey of self-discovery makes “Lonely Planet” uniquely introspective and different from traditional romantic dramas

If you enjoy a good love story that doesn't require complexity or extravagance, “Lonely Planet” is the next film to watch on streaming It's a simple feel-good film, but not lacking in passion or tension Dern and Hemsworth have an undeniable chemistry that makes their story all the more intoxicating

For more streaming, watch 5 romantic thriller movies on Netflix And if you're looking forward to the spooky season, check out Netflix's best Halloween movies (as am I)

Stream “Lonely Planet” on Netflix now