Love Simon

Of all the things I could review for pride month, there were a lot to considered. I thought about looking one of the series of Queer of Folk or pick a film. I decided to look at a heart-warming movie that helped me change my life around back in 2018. Let’s look at Love Simon.

Love Simon (2018) 110 minutes

Simon Spier is a closeted teen who begins an email exchange romance with a boy named Blue. Things don’t go as planned as he is soon found out by a very unlikeable and lonely student, and blackmailed. Simon doesn’t have a good time with things, till eventually, everything works out and it is all happy every after on the ferries wheel.

Spoiler alert I like this movie. What’s not to like her, it’s a nice gay story. As you know like me some LGBT+ love story. The film itself is based on the book Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Which I read after seeing this movie, and I can say it’s very faithful addition. Which is good for the young people it’s aimed aid.

Before I talk about all the good, let’s talk about the bad. There is very few, but there are sum. As Blue is kept anonymous throughout the film, but when Simon tries to figure it out, he’s instantly dismissive of a lot of the people he suspects. Which he does because they aren’t good looking. Which is a shame this idea is pushed, as he has a connection with the Blue, why does look smatter.  Shame to push this narrative.

The only other thing that I didn’t like is when his friends find out what hes been up, they kinda make it about themselves, and decided to dessert him. Which is something I didn’t like. I know teens can be quite the bit self-involved, but it find it hard to believe. As these friends are meant to be as good friends as the film claim to be, wouldn’t it be over it in a day? When they know he’s been blackmailed, outed, and did these things to hide his sexuality. Which you know they should understand why, especially when there is a lot of homophobic bullying going on. So maybe this could have been handled a little bit differently.

One thing I do love about film is its soundtrack, which is an interesting mix of things. Which a lot of them have a diegetic reason for them being played. Simon a teenager had a high calibre record player. Which I don’t know if teens are doing or were doing. But I guess it’s a character trait. Or course, it wouldn’t be a gay movie without a musical number. Actually, we have three, more on one of those later. But we have a little dance number to Whitney Huston. Which as Simon puts it, ‘Not that Gay’.

Throughout the movie there are nice little touches to make the movie seem like its more real than it needed to be. With the musical numbers I mentioned, the school play is on the right side of awful. As its very low budget and needs like a million more rehearsals. But I think a lot of what I like about the realness has to do with all the gay stuff.

The character of Simon is portrayed correctly. From his awkward way he tries to introduce himself to the handsome gardener. Eventually when Simon is outed, he still can’t say that he’s gay out lout. Showing that he wasn’t ready to say he was gay to anyone. Which why when he says it to his friend Abby it feels genuine and coming out to her is handled well as well. But when he comes out to his parents, he can’t look at them when he says it. Which for me was extra touching, because I couldn’t do it either, so I think it resonates with maybe a few more people. While turning on his sister is understandable as Simon’s world has just came crashing down and is just needed to lash out at someone.

Of course, this would be a true representation of LGBT+ life if there wasn’t some homophobia. There is another gay student in the movie, who is bullied for being femme. However, this character can hold his own against the bullies, and then when Simon is outed, of course the two out gay characters must be dating. Also, there is a lot of stereotypes that are trying to subvert which is great.

I think this film is good, and its funny too. Which is why I love the coming out scene. However, it’s the straight kids that are coming out, and it’s a total parody of what a coming out should be. Which even though it’s done for laughs, it helps to demonstrate to people aren’t of the LGBT+ persuasion how difficult it is. Which is why love this scene. While the vice principle tries to be funny, it comes off annoying at times. But I do find the drama teacher a little funnier.

Overall, this a good movie for the youth, and good approach to the teen LGBT+ movie. It has a lot going for it, and when it released when there wasn’t a lot of kind stories being realised in major cinemas. It was another small step in getting a lot more mainstream media with the representation of the LGBT+ community.

This film is a good time to be enjoyed by all. Showing people, the struggles of coming out as a teen. Showing how it might have felt to some of us back when we was trying to find our way. It’s just a shame as I recommend this, it’s not available anywhere in the UK, on a streaming service without renting. However, it’s somewhat sequel series Love Victor is on Disney+ and just realised season 3. Which I might cover next year. So, in taking a que from the movie, I’ll see you all next time.

Love, FabEs