Gillian Jacobs
Harper
Overview
She could do the responsible thing. Or she could go to Ibiza with her best friends to chase down a hot DJ. Easy choice.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Giddy, Hollow Heart of Ibiza
I’ll admit it: I went into Ibiza expecting a lightweight, sun-soaked romp. A comedy about three best friends chasing a DJ across Spain, fueled by cheap wine and cheaper decisions—what’s not to like? But somewhere between the neon-lit nightclubs and the increasingly absurd plot twists, I realized this movie isn’t just a rom-com.
It’s a rom-com about rom-coms, a film so aware of its own clichés that it either transcends them or collapses under their weight. I’m still not sure which.
Alex Richanbach’s film follows Harper (Gillian Jacobs), a workaholic architect who gets swept up in a spontaneous trip to Ibiza with her two best friends, Nikki (Vanessa Bayer) and Leah (Phoebe Robinson). The inciting incident? Harper’s crush on Leo West (Richard Madden), a famous DJ she meets in a Barcelona bar.
What follows is a series of escalating misadventures: stolen passports, a run-in with a smarmy yacht owner (Jordi Mollà), and a climactic chase through a nightclub that feels like it was lifted from a Hangover outtake. The film’s tagline—"Best friends tripping"—isn’t just a pun; it’s a mission statement.
The problem isn’t that Ibiza leans into its genre tropes. It’s that it leans so hard it nearly topples over. Harper’s arc—responsible career woman learns to let loose—is as old as the rom-com itself, and the film doesn’t do much to refresh it.
The third-act revelation that Leo might not be the perfect guy after all is telegraphed so early it feels like a shrug. But here’s the thing: Ibiza knows it’s derivative. It wants you to recognize the beats.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 5.2/10
"A lightweight rom-com with charming leads but a forgettable plot and uneven humor."
The film’s breezy tone and likable performances from Gillian Jacobs and Vanessa Bayer provide some entertainment value, though many find the story too predictable and the jokes hit-or-miss. latestnetflix.com's take is that The Ibiza setting adds visual appeal, but the romance and comedy often feel underdeveloped, leaving viewers wanting more substance.
What viewers praise
- Charming lead performances Gillian Jacobs and Vanessa Bayer bring energy and likability, making their characters easy to root for.
- Vibrant Ibiza setting The sunny, party-filled backdrop of Ibiza adds a fun and visually appealing atmosphere.
- Lighthearted tone The movie’s breezy, carefree vibe works well for those seeking a low-stakes rom-com.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows well-worn rom-com tropes without enough twists to feel fresh or engaging.
- Uneven humor Jokes land inconsistently, with some falling flat and leaving the comedy feeling forced.
- Underdeveloped romance The central love story lacks depth, making it hard to invest in the characters’ relationships.
- Weak supporting cast Side characters, including Richard Madden’s role, feel underutilized or one-dimensional.
Recommended for
Fans of light rom-coms Gillian Jacobs enthusiasts Travel-themed movie lovers Casual comedy seekers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsThe island in the title never let them shoot there.
Gillian Jacobs spends 94 minutes chasing Richard Madden to Ibiza, and almost none of the geography is Ibiza. Split and Zrce Beach on Pag doubled as Barcelona. The island of Krk stood in for the White Isle. Principal photography started September 5, 2017. Madden posted "Day 1 filming on #Ibiza" that morning. latestnetflix.com's take is that Croatia's film office logged 16 shooting days and 190 crew.The Aquarius club on Zrce became Barcelona's Aurora. Street signs got Spanish overlays. 
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The Consell d'Eivissa had already said no. They read Lauryn Kahn's script and decided it was lousy PR for the tourism they wanted, something other than clubbing. Villa operator Guenolee Roger told The Hollywood Reporter the council gave Netflix a firm no. After the May 25, 2018 drop, island officials talked about suing for abusing the Ibiza brand. Ultima Hora quoted the Consell calling the movie a fraud, a picture about the island shot in Croatia. Event planner Johanna Carlson said it showed one throbbing club, a fake sunset, empty streets, a taxi driver, and a go-go dancer. That is the island's version. Netflix did not comment. ,
Sony wanted a girl fight. Netflix wanted the original trip.
Kahn spent four years as Adam McKay's assistant, then sold He's Fuckin' Perfect to Fox 2000 for $1 million against $1.5 million. With that check she took her best friends to Spain. They were 27 and 28. One friend went home with a guy from the UK. The group made him stand outside the club, took his photo, first name, last name, phone number. That weekend became I'm in Love With the DJ. Sony bought the spec in April 2014 for Gary Sanchez, Will Ferrell, McKay, and Kevin Messick. Studio notes piled on. They wanted a background for how the friends met. They wanted a huge fight so the girls all break up. Kahn told Glamour the script got overdeveloped until she did not recognize it. A later company looked at the Sony draft and said they could not make that version. They wanted the original. Netflix picked it up in June 2017 with Jacobs, Vanessa Bayer, and Phoebe Robinson. Madden closed in August. Kahn was on the Croatia set with a baby this time, rewriting in the day, night shoots after. 
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The bird poop was a test. So was Robb Stark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw27eMJH3H4
Kahn rewrote around the three women. Robinson had been to one club in her life. Jacobs said she needs to be cast in a film to have that kind of weekend. Bayer sat with fake bird droppings on her face while the crew asked if it looked gross enough. It got in her mouth. She told Entertainment Weekly that acting like it was in her mouth was nauseating. Robinson was watching Game of Thrones from the start in the hotel because Madden was in the movie. Bayer begged her to finish season 3 before he arrived. Robinson told him she knew someone dies at the Red Wedding, not who. He said, "cool." The official trailer still sells a hot DJ and a girls' trip. The island never signed off. ,
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.