I loved this movie because I saw my younger self in more than 1 character. The protagonists are young, in love for the first time, don't have great coping mechanisms, and don't know what to do with the depth of their feelings. Their fears and young'ish discussion skills dampen their feelings at every step. Will their love stay lit despite it all? Isn't that what every person hopes in every new relationship? The dance of 2 steps forward/1 step back -- excitement and hope, fear and anxiety. That's where Julie and Kevin take the viewer. They are not the perfect couple -- and that's why I connected to them. Their honesty and complexity resonated deeply with me, and their dance -- while it is not "mine" per say -- well, their steps felt familiar. I watched them and it felt deeply emotional to me, seeing parts of my old self in them and simply watching them as a couple evolve.
On a lighter note, the writing is both funny and sad. Some lines are laugh out loud funny and light and that provides a good balance for the emotions. The ending is a surprise and, when it's all done, completely perfect.
I very much look forward to seeing what new director Chris McKay writes and directs next.