Exclusive Interview: Paris Berelc and Asher Angel Talk ‘Kissing Is the Easy Part’

Paris Berelc and Asher Angel bring undeniable spark to Kissing Is the Easy Part, their performances echoing the timeless charm of the classic ’90s rom-com. Individually, they infuse their characters with emotional depth and specificity, and together, their chemistry lands in a way that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly of the moment.

The new Tubi YA original romantic comedy follows straight-A overachiever Sean (Asher Angel), who strikes a deal to tutor popular wild child Flora (Paris Berelc) in exchange for a coveted college recommendation letter to his dream school. But as their unlikely partnership begins to blur the lines between academic arrangement and something far more personal, school quickly becomes the least of their problems.

Pop Culturalist caught up with Berelc and Angel to talk about stepping into these layered roles, tapping into the film’s emotional core, and why Kissing Is the Easy Part proves that sometimes the biggest leaps of faith—in love and in life—are the ones worth taking.

PC: Paris, Flora shares this beautiful sentiment in the film about self-discovery being a lifelong journey—one that can take many different shapes and forms as long as you remain true to your authentic self. What did this character ultimately teach you about yourself, and what creative discoveries did you make through playing her? And with this being your first time stepping into the role of executive producer, how did that experience shape you as a storyteller, both on this project and moving forward?
Paris: In life, we’re on a constant journey of self-discovery, no matter how old you are. In my personal life, I used to put this expectation on myself to have everything figured out and be like, “This is who I am. This is what I like. This is what I do. That’s it.” And if I found myself going down a different path, I’d think, “Wait, why? Why is everything changing so much?”

I’d say once I got into my 20s and out of my teen years, that’s when I started accepting that you’re probably going to be a little different every single day—and that’s okay. You’re always going to discover new things about yourself, even the shadow parts. You have to respect all of it because it’s all a part of you. For Flora to do that at seventeen, I thought, “Wow, I would have loved to figure that out at seventeen.” That would have been amazing. But it was really fun to play that and to find her vulnerability throughout the film.

In terms of producing, my dream—my end goal—is to have a production company and make movies with my friends all the time. I want that Adam Sandler/Margot Robbie career. It was great dipping my toes into it. We’re on the right path.

Asher: I’m going to be there.

PC: Beautifully said. Asher, Sean’s journey in this film is about embracing change and trusting your gut, which feels like such an interesting parallel to the way you’ve approached your craft—especially with the evolution of your music. Was that what initially connected you to this character? If you had to choose one of your songs as the soundtrack to his journey in the film, which would it be and why?
Asher: Oh, wow. That’s a really good question.

Paris: I have my song.

Asher: have mine too—I wonder if it’s the same as yours. “Alternate Ending?”

Paris: Yes.

Asher: I feel like everyone in their life has felt what Paris was saying—that they’re not enough. We all go through trials and tribulations, overcoming adversity with the help of our friends and family. Sean is so invested in his loved ones and getting into MIT—that’s all he cares about—and he’s so uptight because of it.

I’d say “Alternate Ending” plays into that story really well—that journey of self-discovery and finding who you truly are. Because there are going to be times when you feel lost. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and you’ll eventually get there.

PC: As I was watching this film, it gave those classic ’90s rom-com vibes like She’s All That, but with a really fun role-reversal twist. It’s within the dynamic between these two characters that they’re able to truly see each other for who they are. In the spirit of that role reversal, was there a behind-the-scenes moment or a scene in the film that captures who your co-star is at their core?
Paris: I would say when Sean runs to the airport to get Flora. That’s Asher. He would do that.

Asher: I would 1,000% do that. I don’t know if the romantic gesture would be quite as romantic as Sean’s, because he brought that #2 pencil—he did his due diligence. I’d run and try to get there. I don’t know if I’m blowing past TSA like that, but he’s a bit of a nutcase because that’s the effect Flora has on him. He realizes he’s lost the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

It’s a fight for love—he’s going to try to get his girl. I would definitely do that…maybe not to that extent. So props to Sean for that—it’s quite romantic.

Make sure to follow Paris (Instagram) and Asher (Instagram). Stream Kissing Is the Easy Part on Tubi today.

Photo Credit: Tubi