While gay marriage was recognised in the United States some time ago, it hasn’t led to an influx of mainstream gay-themed movies. They remain few and far between. Something like the excellent Academy Award winner Call Me by Your Name remains in the art house space. Love, Simon breaks the mould – an openly gay themed romantic comedy. It’s a coming-of-age tale between two high school kids of the same sex.
Greg Berlanti (The Flash) takes the director’s chair. Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker provide the screenplay based on Becky Albertalli’s young adult novel, Simon vs The Homo Sapien’s Agenda.
Love, Simon is largely sweet and nice, and features some lovely characters. It has charm and pizazz, and catchy dialogue. Having said that, it suffers from a dull start. It takes its time to work its way into our psyche.
Nick Robinson (The 5th Wave) is well cast as the earnest and sincere hero of the piece – a decent young bloke. Logan Miller (Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse) does a fair job stealing the limelight as the loud-mouthed nerd Martin. But the best lines and delivery go to the drama teacher Ms Albright; a role filled by Natasha Rothwell (Insecure), whose sense of timing is impeccable. Not far behind is the cringe-worthy effort of the deputy principal Mr Worth, played by Tony Hale (The 15:17 to Paris).
Love, Simon could be accused of sugar coating the real-life experience of gay students (kids can be mighty cruel). But I dare say most who buy a ticket will still applaud the Hollywood ending.
Director: Greg Berlanti
Cast: Nick Robinson, Natasha Rothwell, Tony Hale, Logan Miller, Alexandra Shipp
Release Date: 29 March 2018
Rating: M
Alex First
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David Edwards is the editor of The Blurb and a contributor on film and television