by JOSE PAOLO DELA CRUZ
Closeted high-schooler Simon Spier (played by Nick Robinson) finds himself searching for (and falling in love with) another closeted gay boy from his school. However, things turn awry when an annoying jerk of a classmate (literally) threatens to expose his secret. Will Simon find true love in this heart tugging comedy of errors?
Based on Becky Albertalli’s novel Simon Versus the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Love, Simon is a unique coming of age film that tackles the ever so common yet usually ignored topic of coming out. But unlike its contemporaries, the movie reveals its own cinematic mark with its unabashed, unapologetic and unpretentious take on being queer. It’s gay, yes, but at some point it gets over it.
In doing so, it becomes a relevant love and self-discovery story of its time. It becomes an effective coming out movie and so much more, one that is able to unravel a plot that may be troubling but not depressing; expose twists that are engaging enough to keep you at the edge of your seat, but stripped of the usual life and death consequences that plague most gay movies. It becomes a movie about a young man’s life that may look ordinary at first, yet made ever so special by the individuality of its characters.
Nick Robinson makes for an effective Simon — charming and extremely lovable, but freed the usual dreamboat looks of Hollywood; while his squad played by Katherine Langford, Alexandra Shipp and Jorge Lendoborg Jr., each add their own element to this soon-to-be iconic high school mix.
Director Greg Berlanti, who helms what is shaping up to be the first major motion picture on queer teens in the US, effectively delivers the book’s plot points without making it overwrought. The scenes play out in a relatable manner, making it easy for anyone in the movie theater, who’s also suffering from the same fear of coming out, to identify with Simon. Or for anyone to understand what that closeted nephew or friend or classmate is probably going through by seeing them in Simon, for that matter.
Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel, who play Simon’s parents also transition well into their (good-looking) middle-aged parents roles. It’s hard to imagine Simon with another set of parents after seeing their effectively awkward yet heartwarming performances.
In its simplicity, Love, Simon shines as a fine example of romantic comedies, not just in the LGBTQ genre, but in general. It proves that not all gay movies should be as depressing as Brokeback Mountain or as profound as Call Me By Your Name. Don’t get me wrong, those two were masterpieces, but they aren’t quite as easy to digest and enjoy, especially if you’re a 16 year-old gay boy who is yet to figure out his place in the world, and just wants a first boyfriend! It also shows that a film, especially one dealing with gay men, can be funny and sexy even without a smidgen of nudity,
While lighthearted in terms of treatment, the message, or messages, rather, aren’t lost in Love, Simon.
First, don’t ever think your friends won’t have your back. They will take you for who you are if they are worthy of holding such titles as “BFF” in your life.
Second, love and accept yourself. There’s no guarantee that the rest of society will follow suit, but at least you have the most important vote in the bag — yours!
And last but not the least, out or not, you deserve all the love in the world!
Distributed by 20th Century Fox, Love, Simon (110 minutes) is currently in select theaters nationwide.
