Movie Review: Love, Simon - #LoveSimon

LOVE, SIMON

Release Date: March 16, 2018
About: Directed by Greg Berlanti (Riverdale, Supergirl, The Flash), written by Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger (This is Us), and based on Becky Albertalli’s acclaimed novel Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
Starring: Nick Robinson, Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner
Directed By: Greg Berlanti
Screenplay By: Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker
Produced By: Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Pouya Shahbazian, and Isaac Klausner

Everyone deserves a great love story. But for seventeen-year old Simon Spier it’s a little more complicated: he’s yet to tell his family or friends he’s gay and he doesn’t actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying and life-changing. Directed by Greg Berlanti (Riverdale, The Flash, Supergirl), written by Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger (This is Us), and based on Becky Albertalli’s acclaimed novel, LOVE, SIMON is a funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story about the thrilling ride of finding yourself and falling in love.

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It isn't very often that a movie manages to accurately mirror the generation for which it was made. Where previous generations had Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Breakfast Club or Pretty in Pink, the current generation now has Love, Simon.  It is that much of a stand-out. 

Based on Becky Albertalli's novel, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Love, Simon is the story of Simon, a high school senior who has everything going for him in his school and family life, and is hiding the fact that he is gay. 

Simon (played by Nick Robinson) convinced himself that he could wait until after high school to live his true life for, well, a list of reasons. But "because everyone deserves a great love story," keeping Simon's sexuality a secret was harder than Simon anticipated. Love, Simon is a genuinely great "coming of age" story. 

All of the high school archetypes are included. The fresh-faced ensamble cast, including Katherine Langford, Alexandra Shipp, Logan Miller, Miles Heizer and Keiynan Londale, has princesses, basket cases, brains, jocks and criminals. The entire casts' work feels very genuine. All of the characters are likable; even the bully has redeeming qualities. 

Speaking of bullying, it was refreshing to see how the topic is approached in the film. The social media aspects of the bullying felt real, especially for a younger audience.  The anti-bullying message was very timely and Love, Simon drove home the point perfectly. There were several empowering, fists in the air, moments. 

The teenage cast was well balanced by the parental units in the film. Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Garner and Tony Hale wonderfully portray the parents to teenagers that everyone wants to be. Tony Hale (as Mr. Worth) was painfully and comically trying his best to connect with his students, embodying the angst of parents everywhere. 

Love, Simon is through and through a great film. It will speak to LGBTQA teens and anyone who feels like they don't fit in. The movie has a sub-plot for everyone. Younger audiences will appreciate seeing others like themselves on-screen and older audiences will appreciate the John Hughes-esque formula. The themes are real, but developed in a light-hearted enough manner that the film is okay for the whole family. 

You can't go wrong with Love, Simon's feel-good vibe. It is one of those buzzy movies that everyone will be talking about after it opens. To be in the know, make sure to catch Love, Simon in theaters. It is playing everywhere now.