FOOD/DRINK BEFORE SCREENING: popcorn and water
MOOD: stressed
EXPECTATION OF MOVIE: elevated
First up: some transparency about where my head was during the screening.
I saw the movie at 2 pm on a weekday, so I was admittedly stressed about the work I needed to get done back at the office.
I’d also managed to miss lunch, so I was hungry – I grabbed a popcorn and water on my way into the theater.
But since I’d heard good things about the movie, my expectations were elevated.
And Love, Simon didn’t let me down.
The movie is both a formulaic coming-of-age story and a groundbreaking piece of film. Even though it's a high school rom-com about a kid who falls in love for the first time, it's also a story that hasn’t been told before – because Simon is gay.
His coming-of-age story is also a coming out story – making him the first gay character at the center of a broad, wide-release teenage romantic comedy.
Suffice to say, I loved the idea and was hoping it would work. And for the most part, it did.
Other than a few dream sequence-type scenes that feel forced, the movie is breezy and sweet and easy to watch. And by the third act, I was a puddle - I probably cried three times.
It's manipulative in a classic rom-com sort of way, but there was also an authenticity and gravity to the dialogue and interactions. I genuinely cared about the main characters, particularly Simon who’s played effortlessly by Nick Robinson.
Important disclosure: Nick is a Seattle native. He attended St. Anne School and performed in local theater. I first met him five years ago when his indie film The Kings of Summer screened at the Seattle International Film Festival.
In short, I've watched him come up and I'm biased.
But that honestly isn’t influencing me when I say he delivers a realistic and moving performance in a role that required him to juggle comedy with subtlety and vulnerability.
As a parent, I also really appreciated the way Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner portray Simon’s parents. They're loving and present and communicative, but they still don't handle his coming out in the best way.
So, they step back. And listen. And try harder.
It’s a solid message.
My review for Love, Simon?
Even though I was hungry and stressed when the movie started, I'd fallen in love with Simon by the end.
It might not change your life, but it's clever and cringe-worthy and charming in all the right ways.
And I can't help but look forward to the day when people watch the movie and don't even notice it's about a gay character.
It's just about a kid, coming of age in high school.
With that, I’d recommend it to any other kid coming of age, tweens (who’ll get there before they know it,) and adults who’d like to see a good romantic comedy this weekend.
WHAT IS “HONEST REVIEW”?
I’m a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association. I interview actors and filmmakers. I’ve worked in broadcast television for 20 years.
I’m also a Seattle wife and mom who works full-time and sits in an hour of traffic (minimum) every day.
Sometimes I’m tired when I screen a movie. Sometimes I’m traveling and I miss my kids. Sometimes I’ve had a glass wine when I should have had a glass of water.
All of these things can impact my reaction to a film. Because I’m human.
So in an effort to write an Honest Review, I’ll always list the external factors that might affect my enjoyment of the movie. Then, I’ll give you my review. Then, you can decide if it’s useful or not.
What do you think of Honest Review or Love, Simon? Let me know at @kimholcomb.
