Love, Simon (2018)

Love, Simon feels special because it treats a gay teen love story with the same big-screen sweep, goofy humor, and romantic ache that straight characters have been getting forever—and it does so with an easy, welcoming warmth. Greg Berlanti keeps the vibe bright and buoyant even when emotions get messy, while Nick Robinson makes Simon’s inner tug-of-war feel specific, funny, and quietly brave. The movie’s sweetness isn’t syrupy; it’s grounded in the kind of friendships, family moments, and small humiliations that make high school feel like its own planet, and Jennifer Garner brings a tender steadiness that lands right in the heart. It does follow familiar teen-rom-com rhythms, so if you’re allergic to that formula you may roll your eyes—but if you want something charming, inclusive, and genuinely uplifting, it earns its exhale.

Love, Simon is aiming to be a warm, mainstream teen rom-com that normalizes a gay love story with the same glossy sweetness straight couples usually get, and on that level it mostly succeeds. The catch is that it’s very studio-polished and comfort-first, so if you want something sharper, messier, or more daring, the familiar high-school beats and tidy emotional arcs may feel safe to the point of bland. The blackmail-and-secret setup can also make the drama feel a bit manufactured, with some characters behaving like plot devices rather than real teenagers. Still, it’s genuinely likable, well-acted, and easy to watch, so it’s a solid pick if you want a gentle crowd-pleaser—not a groundbreaking coming-of-age film.