Love, Simon (2018)

Directed by Greg Berlanti

Screenplay written by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker

Based on the novel "Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

Starring Nick Robinson, Katherine Langford, Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel

Based on the best selling novel by Becky Albertalli, Love, Simon is a great movie about friendship, your first love, and most importantly-- coming out! 

Simon Spier (Nick Robinson) is a normal high school boy living a pretty normal life; great family, great friends and just one big secret-- he's gay. Simon stumbles upon a post on his high school's Tumblr page written by a guy going by the screen-name of Blue, claiming he is gay. Simon reaches out anonymously to Blue under the name Jacques, and the two start to form a close bond over e-mail. While he tries to search for who the man behind the alias Blue is at school, Simon runs into some problems. He leaves his e-mails up on a school computer, allowing a nosey classmate to find them, and then his secret becomes threatened and Simon must come to terms with his identity. 

As someone who has gone through not only the awkwardness of having a crush in high school, but coming out too, this movie is very accurate. The mystery surrounding who Blue is, keeps you on your toes the whole movie, and when everything hits the fan your heart is breaking for Simon. Simon is such a likable character, even his actions that may be a little morally questionable are justified because of what he is going through. You root for him throughout the movie, and his love story with Blue over e-mail is so heartwarming and will make anyone feel nostalgic to their first high-school crush.

As someone who read the book, I was a little disappointed with how the movie ended. I can't go into much detail other than that, so as to not spoil it. Honestly though, when are movies adapted from books ever an exact copyright from the book? The book is 200 plus pages there's just no way to fit all that into a 90 minute movie. Berlanti does leave it off satisfyingly even if it strays from Albertalli's ending. Also, Simon is supposed to have a second sister that is totally left out from the movie. That was a big disappointment for me as his other sister was a great character in the book.

Nick Robinson steals the show as the lead for sure. His emotions really come through for a teenage boy struggling with his identity, and his first love, and coming out to family and friends. That's a lot of heavy stuff to work with, but he does it with grace. Simon's friends are all pretty second tier compared to Robinson. Katherine Langford does a good job as his best friend from childhood. Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner are charming as his goofy loving parents. Jennifer Garner has a very emotional scene with Simon later in the movie that is guaranteed to make everyone cry.

Pro tip: do not watch this movie on a crowded airplane with witnesses to your blubbering. 

9/10