Love,Simon

Love, Simon focuses on a young man, who is in the closest, as he embraces his sexuality, all the while trying to find out the identity of the mysterious Blue. The plot is very well adapted from the source material, managing to be both funny and, insightfully deep at times. Truly there is no other movie quite like this, that is what makes Love, Simon so unique. The script is a commentary on the process of finding yourself and coming out in general; being incredibly well done. The characters are incredibly three dimensional to the point where you feel like you know them. Simon, (Nick Robinson), in particular, is an incredibly well-written character, with the trials and tribulations that happen to him striking an emotional chord with the audience: creating a deep emotional bond between you and the character. The search for the identity of Blue is one that keeps you constantly invested, with the emotional pay off at the end being the most heart-warming scene I’ve seen in years. My only critique of the film is that it’s a glamorized Hollywood version of adolescents, being a far cry from more relatable genre fare such as last years Lady Bird. The humour and especially some of the awkward scenes seemed incredibly real; reminding me of my own formative years. Robinson’s delivery is outstanding with every ounce of emotion he conveys feeling genuine. The acting in this film is fantastic to the point that even minor characters such as Simon’s father played by Josh Duhamel have great scenes and feel developed as characters. Duhamel was a standout for me, with the scene in which he embraces his son’s sexuality being the best in the film; bringing more than a few tears to my eye. The direction by Greg Berlanti was fantastic, with each character getting a chance to shine and, have their own meaningful character moments. To conclude this film is a must-see, for the simple fact that it’s message of acceptance is beautiful and, this film is truly unique. Love, Simon almost feels like what John Hughes would make if he was still around today. This is a beautiful film that will make you laugh, make you cry and, quite probably make you cheer. This is a wonderful meditation on growing up in the 21st century and, feels incredibly relevant. Just a very sweet heartfelt film that I guarantee will put a smile on your face.
5/5
Reviewed by Luke