“Love, Simon” Movie Review

Based on the YA novel “Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli, Love, Simon is the first major-studio-backed romantic comedy with a gay teenage protagonist. The movie tells the story of Simon Spier, an average high school student who goes to parties, drinks coffee, and hangs out with his friends. However, nobody knows he’s gay, and his life turns upside down when he falls in love with the anonymous classmate he’s been emailing with online. Struggling with both coming out to his friends and family, along with the identity of his pen pal, the movie shows the reality of what it takes to show the world who you are.

Love, Simon features strong, bold, diverse characters and breaks the barriers of what it means to be normal. Simon explains this by asking why straight has to be the default and thinks it’s unfair that only gay (and LGBT+) people have to come out. No matter who you are or what you identify as, everyone struggles with accepting themselves. The film is an inside look at what it takes to not be ashamed of yourself but to embrace everything that makes you unique. Instead of looking at how people are different from us, we should be celebrating those who have the courage not to follow the “norm”, and realize how alike we really are.

The movie also features a great soundtrack from various artists that’ll have you dancing throughout the movie. Overall the film is well developed, revolutionary, humorous, and wildly inspirational. It is a clear depiction of what it means to come out as yourself and the bravery it takes. Since Love, Simon began filming, to its release March 16th, two actors in the movie have come out themselves and proves the film is the groundbreaking story we need. Whether it’s the struggle of falling in love or just being yourself, everyone can relate to Love, Simon because everyone deserves a great love story and a happy ending.