The sequel, otoh, I watched in the theatre, and it was nice to revisit that universe, but I felt as though it would have worked better as a tv series.

That's a really interesting criticism. So you were fine with the basic plot, just not with how quickly it all went by?

However, it featured a heroine sensible enough to *not* do the usual rom-com thing of misreading a situation and holding a pointless grudge until Act III.

Oh, thank God. Even if I never see the movie, I'm glad to hear it. I can't stand that trope and I rejoice whenever a narrative has no time for it.