Another day, another romance trailer—except this one’s got Lana Condor and Andrew Koji trading longing glances, so we’re legally obligated to pay attention. Tubi just dropped the first look at Worth the Wait, an indie rom-drama weaving together four Asian-American couples in a symphony of meet-cutes, heartaches, and “old flames” (because nothing screams drama like an ex popping up mid-coffee order).
Director Tom Lin (whose resume includes the dreamy Starry Starry Night) helms this ensemble piece, which—let’s be real—could either be a refreshing take on modern love or a Love Actually knockoff with better hair. The trailer’s pitch? “Life is unpredictable enough. You need someone who’s really in it with you.” Cue: montage of wistful stares, rain-soaked confessions, and Ross Butler looking unfairly photogenic.
The Unexpected Twist? It’s (Maybe) Not Just Fluff
Here’s the kicker: the script is inspired by the real-life love story of writers Dan Mark & Rachel Tan. That could mean raw, messy authenticity… or it could mean Hallmark-level platitudes with a side of cultural specificity. The cast—stacked with Sung Kang, Elodie Yung, and Kheng Hua Tan—hints at depth, but trailers are masterful liars. Remember when The Kissing Booth made us think it was about more than Joey King’s bangs?
Historical Context: Asian-led rom-coms have surged since Crazy Rich Asians (2018), but few dive into intertwined narratives like this. Past Lives (2023) tackled longing with Oscar-worthy subtlety; Worth the Wait seems to aim for broader, soapier strokes.
The Tubi Factor
Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: this is a Tubi original. The free, ad-supported platform isn’t exactly known for prestige—unless you count Terror Train 2 as high art. But hey, if Hulu can birth Palm Springs, maybe Tubi’s due for a win.
The trailer’s glossy and full of “will they/won’t they” tension, but the real test is whether Lin’s film transcends its tropes. If it does, it could be a sleeper hit. If not? Well, at least we got 90 seconds of Andrew Koji brooding beautifully.
Worth the Wait streams free on Tubi starting May 23, 2025. Mark your calendars—or don’t. We’ll see if it’s actually worth the hype.
🔥 Hot Take: This’ll either be the next Before Sunrise or a glorified soap opera. No in-between.
