Love, Simon – 4/5 – Movie Reviews by Ry!
Love, Simon – 4/5 – When it comes to film, one of the things I enjoy watching is a good coming-of-age story. Getting that sensual feeling of life in a cinematic journey always brings me back to another time. No matter what the era or age, these films always bring a smile to my face. Love, Simon is another coming-of-age film that tells the tale of one boy learning to be true about who he is to world. Through standard plot elements, fun characters and strong emotional scenes, Love, Simon is another wonderful tale of what it really is like growing up.
Premise: Simon is a senior with a secret that no one knows. Through the final days of high school, one boy will learn truth in what it means to be yourself.
In the lead role as Simon is actor Nick Robinson. Robinson creates a character that is layered, individualistic but impersonal to the highest degree. His upbeat attitude brings great contrast to his introverted personality. You see in Simon a confliction of truth, a battle between his current life and secret. This inner battle brings an introspective look for the audience. Robinson brings this about without any sense of pretention, striking a perceptive tone that is akin to anyone growing up. That conviction brings about honesty and humility, placing Simon in an endearing light. This is something that anyone can understand, and shows the great acting ability of Robinson on the big screen. For the rest of the cast, please refer to the film’s IMDb page. The secondary cast helps level out every aspect of Simon’s life. From his best friends, family, acquaintances and pen pal, you see wholesome connections between the colorful cast of characters. You get a sense of brevity in every relationship, giving the audience a mirror into our lives ‘back in the day’. From the awkward situations, funny scenes and heart-wrenching moments, you believe that these people are truly important to Simon. Even if there are obvious archetypes, it never ceases to break entertainment value for the audience.
The direction tells a story that is relevant on many levels. The idea of being truthful, facing your fears or changing circumstances (even if not directly) echoes through a connective lens. In this thread, you feel emotional detail that revolves around Simon. The aspects of living a ‘good life’ but ‘hold a secret’ can be hard, but complicate that with family, best friends and adolescences is another layer of entanglement. That idea propels the linear storytelling through every cliché, predictable story beat and repeated ‘high school’ moments in the first half. What you see is a common thread that mimics most coming-of-age stories. We follow Simon as he is in his senior year, living the life of a typical teenager in America. With the ‘trials and tribulation’ of school, best friends and family, you see a lot of ‘everyday’ appeal. The ideas of wonder are subtle, but it is the characterized approach that grips you to his story. You see the world through Simon and his secret, providing a contrast to what is and isn’t reality. That idea bridges the gap of characterization and purpose through personal resonance. The desire of being ‘who you are’ is something we all face. No matter if the plot points of high school are trivial, the situations that involve Simon brings you through a web of unpredictable circumstances. The first half does a good job of keeping the focus on him through all the muddled high school tropes. Once Simon comes out as being gay, the film moves into a stronger blend of truth and consequence. Even if there are a lot of predictable tropes and melodramatic sequences, you begin to have a reflection of personal growth. Through character interactions, speech driven scenarios and impactful moments, you are Intune with Simon’s journey. As you reach the climax, the film takes a turn to combine cheesy elements with humble attributes, but it leads to an ending that will leave you with smile. Once the epilogue rolls, you are left with a sense of wonderment in seeing Simon coming full circle in this coming-of-age tale.
The visuals are based in the aesthetics of suburbia. With aspects of home and high school, it gives a reflection of ‘everyday’ nature to the audience. The score is found in any coming-of-age tale, but still helps give the film personality at times.
Love, Simon is a tale of adolescents, but it reverberates a reflection of our own growth in personal worth. With a great central character, some uplifting moments and an endearing grounded feeling, this film does not disappoint. If you’re a fan of coming-of-age films, this is one for you. I say it is worth the full price of admission.