Published on KentWired, March 2018.
“Love, Simon” may be one of the biggest milestones in the coming-of-age film genre that we have seen yet.
Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), describes himself as the typical high school senior marching through his final year of his high school career. He has a great group of friends and a loving family.
He describes everything in his life as being great, except for the fact that he has “one huge ass secret” — he’s gay and hasn’t told a single person.
Simon’s high school has a schoolwide website where students can post gossip, confessions and general high school drama. One evening, Simon checks the page and sees that another closeted guy at school is anonymously writing about how trapped and alone he feels, under the alias “Blue.”
So, Robinson (who can obviously relate to Blue), privately emails him under the alias, Jacques. Thus starting a love story entangled in mystery.
The pair exchange emails for quite some time and inspire each other to begin to slowly reveal their secret to their close friends and family.
Yet, they still don’t know each other’s identities.
Simon is in love with this mystery man and finding out who he really is sends him on a journey that is both hilarious and poignant.
“Love, Simon” has the feel of a typical John Hughes movie (The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink.) Although, with that in mind, “Love, Simon” is modernized and groundbreaking in its content.
The movie tackles the huge issue of inclusion and tolerance of people that aren’t the “default heterosexual,” as Robinson puts it.
What’s great about “Love, Simon,” is that it goes beyond just the bullying and hazing that happens at school to kids like this, but also what it’s like when you come out to those who are close to you.
Director Greg Berlanti displays beautifully the reaction between Simon and his parents when he comes out to them. That performance alone is one of the peaks of the movie.
It’s heartwarming yet sad at the same time. His parents are incredibly supportive, yet they blame themselves for their son having to “hold his breath” around them for so long. They wish they would have noticed that he had something he was hiding.
This series of scenes really stands out because it displays the immense love and support that the people Simon is close with have for him.
Which is monumental for audiences because it shows that it’s OK to be different. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable and be able to live their truth and those who truly love you will stand beside you every step of the way.
“Love, Simon” gives us the love story we needed. The love story that isn’t perfect, but it’s still beautiful and has so many raw emotions and important messages to share.
The movie is a modern classic and will resonate with audiences for a long time.
Don’t miss out on such a revolutionary movie, go see “Love, Simon.” Everyone deserves a great love story.