A best-selling teen novel has become this spring's most charming gay film. Simon Spier is a typical teenager. He dates girls, hangs out with his friends, and enjoys a nice rapport with his family. But Simon is harboring a secret.
"I like your boots," he nervously says to the hunky gardener, who shakes his head and turns away. Yes, Simon is gay, but he's afraid to tell anyone about it. Greg Berlanti's new film "Love, Simon" follows Simon on his journey out of the closet and on his search for love. The film is a good-natured and touching look at the horrors of teen angst in our internet era, based on Becky Albertalli's novel "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda."
One of the first things viewers notice about the film is the diversity of the cast. Simon's circle of friends is an even mix of whites and African Americans. They're a close-knit group, yet race is a non-issue to them. It's an accurate portrayal of the world today's teens live in.
"The film shows what the world looks like," director Berlanti told the B.A.R. in a brief phone interview. "What you see in a coffee shop or a train station should be what you see on the screen. You'll always get a better story if the film looks like the world we live in."
As the story gets underway, Simon's school is buzzing after one of the students, who identifies himself only as "Blue," posts on a message board that he's gay. Everyone wants to know who Blue is, especially Simon, who begins an e-correspondence with Blue. The two open their hearts to each other, and Simon soon finds himself falling in love with someone he's never met. He wants them to meet, but Blue declines, while continuing to keep his identity a secret.
Some viewers might question why it's so difficult for Simon and Blue to come out in today's world, where being gay has become less of an issue. Berlanti reminds us that there are still places where LGBT people are not accepted. "Times are different," Berlanti said. "Yet it's staggering how many kids still try to hurt themselves. Coming out is still a very personal journey."
There are many hilarious moments as Simon wrongly assumes that every male he meets is Blue. At one point he wonders why straight is always the default. This is followed by a collage of sidesplitting fantasy sequences in which Simon's friends come out to their parents as straight.
"I like men," a young lady tells her mom, who bursts into tears.
"I loved the script," Berlanti said. "I had a visceral reaction when I read it. It felt current, simple and special. I'm thinking about some of the films I grew up with that have stayed with me my whole life. I hope that people mark their life by this film and connect to it."
Ultimately, "Love, Simon" is a tender film about a young man looking to find his place in the world. Simon's story is a universal tale: being a teenager is never easy. As we see throughout the film, Simon's straight friends are also looking for love, often just as awkwardly.
Newcomer Nick Robinson is wonderful as Simon. He hits all the right notes as Simon stumbles around in the dark trying to find Blue while he hopes that none of his friends will discover his secret. They do.
"Did you break up with me because I look like a guy?" Simon's ex-girlfriend asks him.
"No, I broke up with you because you don't look like a guy," Simon replies.
Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel offer fine work as Simon's loving and accepting parents. The film includes a powerful scene in which dad apologizes to Simon for not realizing the truth sooner.
"Love, Simon" is a universal story. Whether gay or straight, we've all been Simon at one point in our lives. Opens Friday.