"Love, Simon" - 2018 Film

[MrsSallyAdams]

I attended a preview screening of the film Love, Simon. It's a high school comedy based on the novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapien Agenda by Becky Albertalli. Simon begins an online romance with a man nicknamed "Blue." When a bully reads his e-mails Simon finds himself being blackmailed.

The plot gets melodramatic but the screenplay smartly captures the fear, anger and narcissism that can accompany the coming out process. Simon indulges in some bad behavior to keep his secret and Nick Robinson doesn't shy away from the roles cruel side. Blue's anonymous e-mails are narrated by various men as Simon searches for Blue among his peers. 

I'm older and more cynical than the films' target audience but I enjoyed it. The story would transfer well to the stage alongside shows like Be More Chill and Dear Evan Hansen. However, with the way shows are developed these days, I wouldn't expect to see it on Broadway within the next 15 years.

The movie opens in U.S. theaters on March 16. I'd be curious to hear other folks thoughts on it.

[MrsSallyAdams]

http://threepanelmusicals.blogspot.com/2018/03/love-simon.html

[Call_me_jorge]

I just got out of an early screening of the film and I absolutely adored it. Really loved Nick Robinsons performance and it was such a refreshing film.
Jennifer Garner and Natasha Rothwell were both spectacular as well.

[artscallion]

Saw it last night and loved it. It wasn't that I thought it was anything new or revelatory in its story telling. Being a gay man, the story was completely familiar and predictable to me. What made me love it so was the familiarity and normalcy it was treated with. It was just like all the wonderful, yet formulaic coming-of-age movies I grew up watching (Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club, etc) except that it was about me this time.

There were a few things that surprised me about the audience as well. It was a full house which surprised me for a gay themed movie. And I don't think there were more than 10% gay people there (though obviously that's an assumption) It seemed like mostly straight couples of all ages, families with teens and groups of teen girls. You know, your normal average movie audience. And no one giggled when the two boys kissed or sniggered at the word fag. And everyone applauded at the end. I heard one mom exclaim, "Oh, that was cute!'

I think it was like a balm on my heart to see that us radical gays with our radical agenda have managed to do what we set out to, we normalized gay. And now a young gay person can finally see themselves on the screen in the way that I never could when I was young. And that will go a long way in helping that, potentially struggling, young person see that they are not an oddity, an outsider to the mainstream.

[Gensho]

I found the scene between Simon and his mom, where she addresses his sexuality to be deeply moving. I was in tears. I remember coming out to my parents. It’s never an easy process regardless of the situation or time period. I thought it was a lovely and touching film.

[dramamama611]

Haven't seen the film yet...and at first I was a little...roll my eyes at it. At the lateness of it, it's 2018 for crying out loud.

It seemed safe and easy. But then I realized, maybe in my very liberal, very Massachusetts town, I've forgotten how hard this still is in many communities. Then I saw the clip of his coming out to his dad (!), and as I considered representation, I let go of my oh so cynical side.

Looking forward to catching this next weekend.

[LYLS3637]

I wasn't expecting much, but I found it incredibly moving and funny. 

Thinking about it afterwards, I realized how important it is. A little late for sure, but remembering my teen years trying to find gay stories led to viewings of Crusing and Philadelphia and The Boys in the Band WAY before I should have. A movie like this would have gone a long way.

[Kad]

I'm glad a mainstream movie like this is being released to success, but the fact that a gay actor isn't playing the lead sticks in my craw.

[LYLS3637]

Kad said: "I'm glad a mainstream movie like this is being released to success, but the fact that a gay actor isn't playing the lead sticks in my craw."

I can understand that; however...

 

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The actor playing the love interest identifies as bisexual.

 

[MrsSallyAdams]

At least two other actors in the film are out as well.

 

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Joey Pollari as Lyle, the Waffle House server, and Clark Moore as Ethan, the out and proud student.

I appreciate the perspective that the already-out student brought to the film. I'd have liked to have heard more from him but the plot didn't have room for it. He wasn't in the novel but made a smart addition to the screenplay. 

[Call_me_jorge]

I actually got to seeing it again over the weekend and the scene with his mother stuck with me much more than it did the first time around. I think it’s a beautiful film overall.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Had high hopes for this film, but seriously considered walking out after the first half hour-- it was as if the voice of WILL AND GRACE was coming out of the mouth of every man, woman and child onscreen. Insufferably sitcom-y to a fault. Why was the one out guy at school so flamingly styled by wardrobe and hair? Why was the vice principle so obnoxiously pervy? What world of real high school could these people possibly live in?

 

But then... but then... Something miraculous happened 1/3 of the way into the film. I started to really care deeply about the love story at its center. The schticky dialogue eased up and the genuine pain of coming out to one's parents rang true. The speech the Dad delivered by the garage brought out honest tears which stayed on my face all the way through the wish-fulfillment finale. Maybe in 2018 we really DO still need a movie like LOVE, SIMON.

 

[EllieRose2]

Why does a gay actor need to play the lead?  To be convincing?  If you need to be gay to play a gay character, you are a terrible actor.  

Call Me By Your Name was brilliant and both actors are straight, and were very convincing in their roles.  Ones personal life should not matter at all if you are an actor playing any role.  An actor disappears into the person they are playing, or at least that is what they are trained to do.  They are paid to be other people.  

[blaxx]

If you want to catch another decent coming out film, try the Canadian movie Closet Monster.