Film Review: The Last Summer Gets Serious
When it comes to teen romances, you CANNOT beat Netflix. They have given us “movie theater” worthy films in the comfort of our home. Thus, The Last Summer slightly disappoints because it does not feel very “teen.” When it comes to teen romances, you CANNOT beat Netflix. They have given us “movie theater” worthy films in the comfort of our home. Thus, The Last Summer slightly disappoints because it does not feel very “teen.” Instead, it feels like the surreal, but still endearing paths of twenty-somethings.
From Griffin and Phoebe’s pixie-like prep for college to the very serious, arranged breakup of Alec (Jacob Latimore) and Erin (Halston Sage), I thought, “These are TEENS!” Even one of my favored storyline, Paige (Gage Golightly) and her courtship with a baseball player, felt too mature. Watching The Last Summer, I related to the characters’ jagged bitterness/ sporadic bursts of hope from the characters. Each appeared hardened by a life that did not turn out as they planned; as if they, too, had gone through the Millennial world of student loans, a whirlpool of internships, and the hellish journey known as dating in your twenties. Yet, they were all 18, and going out to parties that appeared too grown to start relationships that felt too adult.
In a way, the “problem” with The Last Summer is that you relate to the characters in a ways you are not supposed to. In terms of cast, The Last Summer hired amazing actors that, themselves, have dominated the teen world. Tyler Posey (Ricky), Maia Mitchell (Phoebe), and KJ Apa (Griffin) are standouts in the film, and each are either playing or have played, within the year, a teenager/ early twenty-something. Hence, it was not hard to see them in young, brash roles. Yet, they are not brash as much as thoughtful to the point of “over-thinking.” In essence, it is a “good problem” to have, and it makes you attracted to the their characters’ depth, but, again, there is a difference between a wise teenager and an older person.
When I think of the difference between To All The Boys I Loved, Sierra Burgess Is A Big Loser, and The Kissing Booth versus The Last Summer, I think it lies in “the fun.” There is a silliness and heartwarming fun to these films that make you sigh at the times self-discovery felt so easy. Yes, when you are teenager, you are still trying to “figure things out”, but it should not be as difficult or as jaded compared to when you are older. I know this reads as if I am starting an “It Gets Worse” campaign, and warning people to NEVER TURN any age over 25. Yet, the choices you make as a teen are, usually, less weighty or life altering.
When you are a teen you are still choosing your path versus paying the repercussions of them, and The Last Summer is a film for those that have paid. Written and directed by William Bindley, the varying storylines of love and romance grab your attention, and the way they are interweaved keeps you invested for its two hours. Thus, it is a film that thrives strictly on perspective. If you forget that this is a teen drama, you might enjoy how it relates to you as twenty-something. Watch The Last Summer On Netflix.
