Film Review: Love, Simon Is A Rom-Com Classic & An LGBT Milestone
Love, Simon is sincerely one of the most refreshing, kindest rom-coms to splash across cinemas in awhile. The fact that it is a vibrant tale of romance geared towards the LGBT community does NOT go without importance. Actually, to have a love story be so heart-warming, yet casually magnificent, is a milestone.
If Call Me By Your Name furthered that LGBT stories could become filmed art then Love, Simon teaches us that LGBT, love stories can be classic, mainstream successes. I could not help but dream of seeing Love, Simon twenty years from now on a TNT re-run just like you see other classics like, The Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles. From the beginning, you know you are watching something special, of which Nick Robinson’s performance as Simon Spier makes you want to watch again and again.
Simon as a character has every reason to be happy, but one truth that blocks it completely: his sexuality. Robinson makes Simon a quiet charm: sweet, smart, and dedicated to assuring everyone feels and does better. His cast of friends are exceptional, and the actors bring a sincere realism to their characters: Alexandra Shipp’s quirky Abby Suso, Keiynan Lonsdale’s charming Bram Greenfeld, Katherine Langford’s loyal Leah Burke, and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. noble Nick Eisner.These are a group of kids that like each other, and that chemistry leaps form the screen. It is in seeing Simon be so generous and eager to genuinely connect with others that you feel bad for Simon; he is an open heart shutting itself out in perceived protectiveness. With so many people that he loves and love him back, he is terrified that this one thing, his homosexuality, will make them turn away from all that he is like, a cool friend, a great son, and a good person.
For 1 hour and 49 minutes your eyes widen as you find yourself silently praying that this good guy finds the right guy. The film does well to “psyche” you out as to who it is, although, if you read the book then you know. Still, it is fun to hope, get crushed, and hope again every time you think this is “Blue”: the name of Simon’s admirer. Director Greg Berlanti goes beyond respecting and cherishing the humanity of this character; he has constructed this film to build an empathetic connection with audiences. You do more then just watch the film; you experience it like you are Simon himself. You push yourself and sub-consciously pushing Simon to accept the truth: being gay does not change who you are as person. Yet, owning who you are furthers you as one.
I used to think “coming out” was what changed things for a person; as if life alters because sexuality is revealed. Yet, Love, Simon shows life alters because truth is revealed. Simon’s mother Emily Spier (played lovingly by Jennifer Garner) said it best when describing “closeted Simon”; it was as if he was holding his breath. When hiding his sexuality, he never fully invested in his relationships because he was not fully invested in himself. For however wonderful he was with others, in carrying specks of fear and shame over his person, he denied himself the opportunity to be the best version of himself. Hence, why so many people cried and cheered as Simon falls in love, and begins to embrace his life as something he wants and not something he worries about.
I cannot gush enough about Nick Robinson’s performance because you want Simon to be happy and fall in love as if you, yourself, were trying to live happily ever after with an online admirer. Still, the most important factor about Love, Simon is the standard it sets in terms of LGBT youth getting a happy, movie ending. Simon Spier has a great, supportive family, whose dad Jack (played by Josh Duhamel) struggles, initially, to comprehend his sexuality, but, in the end, adores him too much to not learn how to understand. As for his friends, they learn to forgive the many foolish things he did to hide his sexuality like, plotting against them because of Martin’s blackmails (played to lovingly hate by Logan Miller). Yet, most importantly, Simon finds love within himself and another. This movie DOES NOT END TEARS! On the contrary, it ends with you and Simon smiling brightly because you feel lighter then when this filmed journey began. Love, Simon comes out In Theatres on March 16.
