Review: “Love, Simon” offers new perspective on coming out in high school, marks progress for LGBTQ+ representation

The+Love%2C+Simon+official+promotional+poster.+The+film+was+released+March+16%2C+and+is+now+screening+in+theaters+across+America.++Image+source%3A+%0A20th+Century+Fox.

The “Love, Simon” official promotional poster. The film was released March 16, and is now screening in theaters across America. Image source: 20th Century Fox.

“Love, Simon”, directed by Greg Berlanti, tells a story as old as time but offers a new perspective.

Based upon Becky Albertallis’ young adult novel, “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda,” the film “Love, Simon” is a coming-of-age romantic comedy that was released in March 2018. The movie focuses on teenager Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), who has a perfectly normal and happy life, except for one thing that continues to bother him: his closeted sexuality.

Once another male student anonymously posts on their school’s gossip website that he is gay, Simon emails him but does not reveal his identity. Eventually, as the two boys have conversations and connect with one another over shared life experiences, the two fall in love. 

One day, their private correspondences are exposed to the community, and suddenly, Simon’s most personal information has been outed to the entire school. Without any preparation and on someone else’s terms, Simon must learn to accept himself and allow other people to do the same. 

The classic teen romance story portrayed in the film felt so familiar, but it was told in a completely new way. “Love, Simon” offers an alternative narrative on the experience of being gay in high school, one that does not end in bullying and heartbreak.

Yet the film also aims to normalize this narrative by conforming to all aspects of a typical high school romantic comedy; it includes all the family drama, gossip, secrets and unrequited crushes you would find in any other teen movie. However, it lacks traditional, one-dimensional stereotypes, which simultaneously makes it unique. 

Simon is portrayed as a typical high school student whose sexuality does not define him; the film highlights representation for members of the LGBTQ+ community in the media who don’t necessarily fit the stereotypes and cliches typically tied to being gay. 

While Simon’s sexuality is the main focus of the plot, the conflicts do not all focus on this. Instead, the conflict mostly centers on the chaos that ensues after Simon reveals his true self. As the movie displays, coming out as yourself in high school — whether it is related to sexuality or not — is a difficult task, and the film comments on ideas of acceptance in every sense.

Although I myself do not identify as LGBTQ+, “Love, Simon” allowed me to become more open-minded and taught me to be authentic. During the movie, people in the theater laughed and cried. By the time the movie was over, I left with a smile plastered on my face.

“Love, Simon” is a relatable, warm story that is sure to entertain and educate. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone looking for a feel-good story. Here’s to more movies like “Love, Simon!” 

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  • Technical Quality
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  • Impact
4.3

Summary

“Love, Simon” is a coming-of-age film released earlier this year by 20th Century Fox. The story follows 16-year-old Simon Spier as he faces the typical struggles of high school.