Love, Simon (2018)
C – 110m
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
Novel: Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Screenplay By: Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker
Dir.: Greg Berlanti
Starring: Nick Robinson, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel, Katherine Langford, Alexandra Shipp, Logan Miller, Talitha Eliana Bateman, Tony Hale, Natasha Rothwell, Miles Heizer, Joey Pollari, Mackenzie Lintz, Cassady, McClincy, Alex Sgambati, Emily Jordan, Patrick Donohue and Joshua Mikel.
Simon Spier keeps a huge secret from his family, his friends, and all of his classmates: he’s gay. When the secret is threatened, Simon must face everyone and comes to terms with his identity. A major motion picture with a gay protagonist – novel! This hit film from the hit first of a two book hit series features a great script, great acting and fine direction and cinematography. It also boasts of a wonderful sound mix! The story has echoes of John Hughes films, much like Blockers (2018), with a dash of Boys Don’t Cry (1999) for good measure. The cast is more than capable with the splendid material. The only complaint is that the Drama Teacher is just a tad to hip and on target with her frank talking to students. In real life, no teacher would get away with saying what she does in this film. If you can look beyond that and a few cheesy lines, this film has wit and heart to spare. See it!
Trivia: Just as this film went into production, Nick Robinson’s younger brother came out as gay. This was the first film produced by a major Hollywood studio to feature a gay teenage protagonist. Director Greg Berlanti revealed in an interview that the clips of “friends group” were shot without the actors’ knowledge. Sometimes Berlanti would yell, “Cut!” for the actors but keep the cameras going to capture unscripted moments. Some of these made it into the final cut of the film, like the dancing in the car scene. Jennifer Garner’s, “exhale,” speech wasn’t originally in the film. When Garner became interested in the film, she asked director Nick Robinson for a scene for her character to form a connection with Simon. So they rewrote the script and worked in the scene that is essentially the message of the movie. Kristen Bell, Neil Patrick Harris, Matt Bomer, Tyler Oakley, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, screenwriter Martin Gero, Benj Pasek, Andrew Rannells, Joey Graceffa, Scott Hoying, Superfruit’s Mitch Grassi, Jennifer Garner and Greg Berlanti bought out the theatres in their home towns so that this film would reach larger audiences.
Keiynan Lonsdale was inspired to publicly come out through his involvement in this film. In Simon’s bedroom there is a copy of the sequel novel, The Upside Of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli, which revolves around Abby’s cousin. The production code for this film was, “Blue,” which was a pseudonym of the person Simon e–mails. Colton Haynes had a small role in a deleted scene as a man who approaches Simon and mistakes him for someone else he knows at a gay bar and ends up asking Simon for a dance.
Rated: [PG–13] – Thematic Elements, Sexual References, Language & Teen Partying
Available on 4K & Regular Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy