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A geeky, inexperienced, and not-so-confident girl hires a stripper to coach her on how to land a guy by performing "69".

The sort of film that rarely works on paper, but delivers in execution thanks to its sincere tone and the charm of its leading actresses! With a great budding friendship between a shy (but quite determined) teen and her bold, quick-witted and sassy mentor. Their dynamic is sweet, funny, and easily the highlight of the movie.

That said.. the film doesn't leave much of a lasting impression. No standout moments that demand a rewatch, subplots that come off as checklist items to fill in space (imagination "problems", the mascot character, highschool reunion, etc) rather than meaningful additions, a third act that stumbles and drags its feet.. With one side of its conclusion that doesn't satisfy, and instead feels rushed and undercooked.

Still, despite its flaws, the movie remains enjoyable and lightheartedly-endearing in a way that makes it easy to forgive some of its crappier moments! And the leads are very good on their roles.

Actress Jillian Bell makes her directorial debut with the teen comedy about friendship and unbridled sex in a film whose strength lies in its openness and authenticity.

Starring Chloe Fineman and Sam Morelos, this comedy takes us on a journey about unbridled sexual freedom and two characters who become soulmates in a humorous yet innocent way. This comedy has its amusing moments and ultimately delivers a satisfying result that can be enjoyed without any major hang-ups. A risky coming-of-age film that manages to contain ironic moments and rather dark humor that make it an absolute pleasure to watch, it's a hilarious homage to classic teen cinema, presented through the female gaze in a rather interesting directorial debut that deserves to be watched.

It's a journey through a film that doesn't discover anything new; it simply strives to place the right pieces at the right moments, resulting in a rather entertaining film. It showcases the kind of sweet, incredible friendships that make teen comedies memorable. When the credits roll, we're left with the feeling that a completely natural friendship has been forged between the characters and the audience, a sign that the journey was quite enjoyable and that we had a good time.

It's not perfect, it won't be for everyone, and the film is aware of that, but if you give it a chance, it will reward you with funny moments and two characters whose crazy antics make you laugh a lot, especially Morelos, who stands out as a budding star worth keeping an eye on.

Despite the film's initial emphasis on its raunchy aspects in both the trailer and marketing materials. It pleasantly surprises with its unexpected depth and heartfelt storytelling.

Yes, it's based on a stripper (Chloe Fineman), who surprisingly keeps her clothes on for the entire film. She's a character who has chosen this profession not out of necessity, but as a means of empowerment and self-expression. She is co-starred by a naive, almost Bambi-like character (Sam Morelos) who so desperately wants to 69 her high school crush but never manages more than a kiss. Abby, the high school girl, comes from a repressive family, which has distorted her views on sexuality and relationships.

Similar to Fast Times, this film delves into the complexities of sex and relationships from a teenage girl's perspective. However, it distinguishes itself by offering a more honest and enlightening exploration of sex, dating, boundaries, and consent.

Whilst the film's plot is driven by Abby's (Sam Morelos) desire to 69 her crush, its heart lies in the chemistry built between Abby and Santa Monica (Chloe Fineman). The two woman's unassuming meeting sets in motion a series of events that will alter their lives.

For Abby, who has come from a repressive family, she now has the opportunity to speak to an older woman to help her understand her sexuality and what it means to be a woman. Most importantly and ironically, it is a stripper, Santa Monica, that teaches her sex is not just for a man's pleasure and is not something that needs to be rushed into, and that who you are vulnerable with matters.

For Santa Monica, her desire to "be something" forces her to be vulnerable with another person, seemingly for the first time in her life. This vulnerability prompts deep reflection on accepting who she is and not being ashamed of the choices she has made in her life.

While not perfect and with an obligatory cheesy ending, this film offers a great insight into the pressures faced by oversexualised youth. It does not condone or glorify this trend, but rather presents a nuanced exploration of the factors that contribute to it and its impact on young people. However, at its core, it conveys a powerful message that emphasises love and consent, advocating for a healthier and more respectful approach to sexuality.

I loved Chloe for this role and I know Sam was hired to be awkward but it's beyond uncomfortable that I never even thought about rooting for her! She is just not enjoyable to watch. The movie has a great idea behind it but I think too much of the casting tried or even accomplished in some instances very stereotypical casting decisions. I get it that it's a first go round for first time director, Bell, but having a MFA myself in directing I know you want to cast your friends to show others how amazing they are, you tend to lose something in the final product, and that's what it clear looks like here.

One of those films that I suspect suffers from not having an obvious niche. It's a classic coming of age / sex comedy, but firmly aimed at girls not boys and with an adult sensibility (adult in the sense of grown up, not a euphemism for porn).

It's a much better film than its rating suggests. The leads are superb and superbly well cast. Some of the side characters are a bit too two dimensional, but no more than lots of films with far bigger budgets. The writing is sharp, with the right dose of raunch without going over the top. It is also well acted.

It also avoids the modern tick box tropes (one person of colour: tick; one person who is non-binary: tick; etc).

Stumbling upon the 2025 comedy "Summer of 69" by random chance, I opted to watch the movie without knowing what I was in for. I simply opted to watch it as it was a movie that I had neither seen nor actually ever heard about. And thus, director Jillian Bell had every opportunity to entertain me here.

The storyline and script written by Jillian Bell, Jules Byrne and Liz Nico was really, really entertaining and enjoyable. There was a lot of great comedy throughout the course of the movie. It was nicely put together and brought to the screen. I was genuinely surprised with how much I enjoyed this 2025 comedy.

The only familiar faces on the cast list, for me, was actress Jillian Bell, whom also happen to both have written and directed the movie, and also actor Charlie Day. The acting performances in "Summer of 69" were good, and I was really impressed with leading actress Sam Morelos, playing Abby. Sam Morelos really carried the movie quite nicely, and she had great on-screen charisma, and she certainly seems like an actress that will go far with her talent.

If you enjoy coming of age comedies with a truly enjoyable storyline, then you most certainly should give "Summer of 69" a chance. I was genuinely and wholehearted entertained throughout the course of the 101 minutes that the movie ran for. I certainly had some good and genuine laughs.

My rating of director Jillian Bell's 2025 comedy "Summer of 69" lands on a most deserved eight out of ten stars.

Jillian Bell's Summer of '69 arrives with a retro vibe and a somewhat inverted premise: a teenage girl hires a hooker to seduce the boy she supposedly likes. The film is pure absurdity, with a concept that, flipped on its head, would likely never make it past the development stage.

Imagine this same movie, but with a male lead who hires a male stripper to seduce a shy girl he likes, it would be akin to creepy and we'd all be reminded of the METOO movement! The fact that Summer of '69 receives praise under the banner of female empowerment and ignores common ethics for the sake of role reversal.

The Hollywood double standard! Feminism? Empowered? Or a power trip? Subversive comedy garbage sold as is! Its pure manipulation and the cast was duped! No amount of charm on Earth can make it better.

We've gotten to the point in streaming content shot on cheap digital mediums that we really have to start asking ourselves what we're looking at.

There's no question that the creators and executives behind Hulu's "Summer of 69" would like you to believe that what you're watching is a movie. I mean, it has a trailer, a poster, and they've even succeeded in getting movie critics from Variety, the Hollywood Reporter, Roger Ebert, and The NY Times to review it as a movie. (A movie that they all agree isn't very good, but inexplicably stop short of telling you to avoid at all costs.)

But is it a movie? I've seen a few and I really don't think so, and I'll tell you why. First of all, from its opening frame, this *thing* hits the television (or computer...or smartphone) with all the cinematic splendor of an 4K episode of Malcolm in the Middle. From there it introduces you to a lead actor so dull and devoid of charisma that you begin to long for ANY young sitcom star from the 80's or 90's (all of whom were told that TV actors couldn't make films, yes, the Hollywood talent pool was once that deep.) THEN at exactly nine minutes into the "movie," Hulu (which you pay a subscription to watch) hits you with your first commercial break, which is a 60-second ad for a pharmaceutical weight management drug called, "Wegovy." (One can't help but take note that the actors in this (horrible) commercial are equally talented to the ones in the "movie.")

Two more thirty second ads later and you're back in the absurd world of Jillian Bell's directorial debut, where our hero, Abby, stumbles into a double-wide strip club and sees a stripper named Santa Monica (SNL's Chloe Fineman) performing on stage in shiny boy shorts and a bikini top. Hey! Don't say you haven't been warned, a loud disclaimer at the beginning told you this was "for mature audiences only." Nevermind that literally ANY college co-eds Instagram page is vastly sexier than anything you'll see at this junior high school imagining of a strip club in the year 2025.

Should I bother to get into the plot? Why should I? The writers didn't. None of it makes any logical sense, and it's very obvious neither the filmmakers or execs could be bothered to care. But by now I'm sure you already know that the title (chosen to intentionally piss off anyone who ever loved the Bryan Adams song of the same name) is based on the fact that Abby wants to learn how to perform mutual oral sex on her longtime school crush, Max, (played by 26 year old Matt Cornett), and delusionally believes that if she could only learn this (basic and self explanatory) sex position she'd win his affection, despite her complete lack of sex appeal, charisma, intelligence or self-esteem.

The stripper agrees to teach Abby this skill because, even though she hates her job and complains about only making $82 at her last shift, she's desperate to save the club and help her mentally challenged boss (an unfunny Paula Pell) pay off her $20,000 loan. Is this a movie? Well, it's certainly clear that Jillian Bell and her two co-writers have SEEN some movies. Does that count? I mean they steal from nearly every purported teen sex comedy the three of them could brainstorm in the week or so I assume it took them to write this uh...content. By the time the next Wegovy commercial hits at the 24 minute mark, you're asking yourself how much more you'll be able to take, and when the...uh...thing...comes back and immediately launches into a joke about Abby's breath being so bad that Santa Monica asks if she might have eaten "poo" for breakfast, if you're like me time's up, the question has been answered.

Is this a movie? No. It's not. If this was a movie it would have been written by a screenwriter. If this was a movie if would have been made by a filmmaker. If this was a movie it would have been developed and earned a green light from executives who valued their reputations. Everything about "Summer of 69" is bad. The writing, the casting, the acting, the cinematography, the MUSIC. Risky Business was Gone With the Wind by comparison. Porky's was Lawrence of fkng Arabia compared to this piece of garbage. Everyone involved is a hack that should be embarrassed, but they won't be. They don't know enough to be. They only know that the people at Hulu are satisfied enough with what they delivered to subject their subscribers to it, and that their paychecks didn't bounce. They'll all be called on again to deliver another one just like this. Why? Because the people who run Hollywood in 2025 hate movies, and they hate working with the people who love movies because those people care too much, and caring costs money.

As a person who loves movies, trust me, if you love movies too, even a little bit, you'll avoid this imposter at all costs.

B-grade films are not usually this enthusiastic. Am trying to hard to imagine the creators behind this project thinking, above all, let's make a film that is really, really hard to review. If you have a week to spare and try to watch ALL the coming-of-age teen comedies produced since the 1970s -- dozens and dozens -- this would honestly rank somewhere near the bottom in terms of script and direction. But somehow, through it all, the cast seems determined to have more fun than the viewer, and that is actually something you don't get to see everyday. Almost makes it watchable. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

While there are funny parts and interesting things about this movie, at its core, it seems like it is just not fully baked. It has elements borrowed and pasted from classic teen movies but this movie somehow feels far too safe.

The main hook of the film is that our main character, a sexually inexperienced introvert, Abby, who wants to win over her crush, Max, hires a local stripper, named Santa Monica, to teach her about sex. Funny Idea, but they manage to go the entire length of the movie without showing Santa Monica actually talk to Abby about sex. Abby really could have used these talks because she believes, that even though she has no idea what 69ing is, this is what she needs to do win over Max.

If they talked about sex was there some concern about getting more adult rating? How could this be if the movie is called "Summer of 69"? Who at Hulu would know?

Abby, feels really young and is awkward and does not seem to be ready to talk about sex or have any kind of intimacy with her crush. For a teen romantic comedy this seems like a big problem. It felt like at times that her character might just forget about trying to "69" her male love interest and come out as asexual or gay because this part of the movie just never felt right.

And speaking of the love interest, Max, he is a very safe, non-interesting guy who exists only to further the story of the main character. He is given zero reasons to even like Abby, but there he is at the end, leaning confidently against the car ready for his John Hughes style kiss. If there was such a thing as a male Bechdel test Max would fail. If I was a friend of Abby I would think it might be a good idea for her to hold up a mirror to Max's face to see if he lets out breath because he could just be a robot.

Also how could they name a movie 'Summer of 69' and not have the Bryan Adams song in it. I took off a star just for that. If you haven't seen it, I would take a pass.

Chloe Fineman delivers a standout performance as Santa Monica, an exotic dancer who helps high school senior Abby Flores, played by Sam Morelos, navigate her romantic endeavors. Fineman's portrayal is particularly notable for an impressive and athletic striptease scene set to Peaches' 2006 hit "Boys Wanna Be Her," showcasing her remarkable strength, flexibility, and control. Her performance has been highlighted as a pivotal moment in the film, leaving a lasting impression on both the audience and Abby's character.

Bonus for 'Grey's Anatomy' Fans:

Adding to the film's appeal, Jerrika Hinton, known for her role as Dr. Stephanie Edwards on "Grey's Anatomy," appears in "Summer of 69." Her presence adds a familiar face for fans of the long-running medical drama.

Overall Assessment:

While "Summer of 69" offers a fresh take on the teen sex comedy genre with strong performances, especially from Fineman, its reception suggests it's more of a solid entry than a perfect film. Given the mixed reviews, a 10 out of 10 rating might be generous. However, if you're a fan of quirky coming-of-age stories with a blend of humor and heart, it could be a worthwhile watch.

Nothing made me laugh, 80 percent of the time I was on my phone while watching it was that boring. No disrespect to jillian but this was not it. A grown woman teaching a teen about sex is womp, even charlie couldn't save this flick.

Chloe to damn skinny to be a stripper that didn't even strip it was obvious she was uncomfortable and Abby was way to dull and boring. Having Chloe as a main character was a bad idea from the beginning. The story was obvious from the start with no twists at the end so nothing was original. This movie is the results of how the cancel culture set stone for future comedy movies aka rip to them. Streamers are funnier than this.

What do literally all coming of age and two friends, whether male or female, movies have in common? That is right, it is this predictable, almost cliche, and ridiculously dumb fight close to the end of the movie. The two always make up by the end of course, realizing they made a mistake.

And just like many other coming of age teen movies, this too is focused around an upcoming party, which of course involves underage drinking, revolving in an idea that boys are boys or "kids" make mistakes and that is Okay, it is part of growing up. No, it is not! It should not be! I was a "kid" once too. I didn't do any of these mistakes. I haven't seen any European or in general foreign movies that perpetuate this idea, and am clueless as to why we do.

As others have pointed out, the movie is not that funny to be a comedy. Most jokes fall flat. You already know how it will play out after just 20 minutes of watching it. No suspense, no surprise, just another "rinse and repeat." It is also one of those movies that promote body positivity and raise unrealistic expectations in our society, making people believe that a "4" can ever get a strong "9" or even "10." So why bother about weight and health.

Skip it. You've seen it a million times already. Same script, different actors.

We stumbled onto Summer of 69 while scrolling through Hulu, honestly just trying to escape another night of endless Netflix picks. None of us knew what we were in for - and yet, this offbeat comedy about teen awkwardness, friendship, and blooming confidence actually surprised us in the best way.

Abby, the main character, really stood out. Winny found her quirky charm and humor totally lovable, while Willow vibed more with the film's look and was (impatiently) waiting for "the good part" - which we'll just say... yeah, he knew when it hit. Mimikyu, meanwhile, was all in for the weird energy and couldn't stop giggling at the immature jokes, which somehow hit just right. Amy and Tails appreciated the character chemistry - the way they bounced off each other felt so natural, almost like real-life friendships, and they both related hard to the awkward, nervous moments that came up. It was that kind of "been there" energy.

Sweet thought the movie had something real to say underneath the laughs. He pointed out how it could be helpful for teens (maybe 14+) figuring things out - though, to him, the bold and loud use of the word sex felt a bit unreal and forced at times. Still, he got that it was a comedy, and it made the message easier to digest - even if it was kinda weird.

In the end, this movie isn't trying to be perfect or deep - but it's honest in a funny, slightly chaotic way. We had a good time.

Rating: 8/10 - Honest laughs and awkward charm!

A wonderful campy homage to the reinvented underdog comedy.

The cast was great - comedy gold from different actors with different backgrounds and different perspectives. From online sensations to TV icons to SNL legends. With relative newcomers that did a great job. Excellent comedic timing and charisma.

You know that the director did a great job when it feels like the talent had great fun working on this movie while maintaining a high standard of technical execution.

It's the perfect movie when you want to spend an evening forgetting about the nonsense of this world, not overthink things and have a laugh.

I was really skeptical coming into this, being the ALPHA I think I am. You know, the red meat, growling, snarling Wolf. I'd chase down overly-showy, and timid women like this. I'm an ANIMAL! They WILL succumb to my will!

But then, my favorite funny person, from that limp-waisted, liberal SNL decides to star in it, and coax me into believing that I (her number 1fan [thanks, Annie Wilkes]) was going to see my dream dance around nekkid.

I sat through one hour and forty minutes, and what the .... Blank ... where were the boobies (No this isn't a size joke. Her character was a stripper, and I've been to enough bachelor parties to know I should see boobies!)

What, you think you can get away with not showing boobies because you make us laugh from the belly in a super identifiable way?

Lots of snark. Loved the movie, loved the cameos, Fibeman continues to be my fave SNL cast member, and she showed she is ready for next, I think.

8/10 - great step into the next level for Fineman. I was skeptical at first, but she brought everything together at the end and I was sold and invested in her arc. The high school girl gave me shades of the 8th grade in-kids, Mitch Kramer and Sabrina Davis, from Dazed and Confused. Solid effort, and it made me laugh out loud, literally.

It seems like most of the reviewers are on one side of the spectrum or fully on the other end. Sometimes it's just pleasant to start a movie that you don't watch any previews and let yourself fall into it.

Normally, I don't watch coming-of-age movies because I don't really want to see raunchy poorly written waste of time movies. This movie is definitely not that. Like one of the reviewers said you don't need to show a lot of nudity in these type of movies go with the simple story.

The jokes were funny! I mean, maybe some people didn't get it but growing up as a girl myself and learning things on my own versus sex education in school, this was very relatable. Even the term 69 and what she thought it meant was so funny.. I think the movie was peppered with a lot of quick-witted, simple and hilarious One-liners. I thoroughly enjoyed it immensely. Then of course the dance routine of the young girl near the end was pretty darn funny!

If I was going to waste a couple hours of time to sit back and just have fun and enjoy a movie this was exactly it. No need to read anything more into it.

I wasn't sure what to expect about this comedy but ended up really enjoying it. It's not quite a raunchy sex comedy, but instead a sweet, earnest, and relatable awkward coming of age movie. The main duo are well cast and have a fun rapport, but the supporting cast is also funny. The strip club feels realistic, but the high school kind of does too. That said, there aren't too many cliches or tropes, even as some of the story is a bit familiar. The characters are unique enough that the plot is engaging. Plus, the script has some indie flair- weird fantasy sequences, funky costumes, and the occasional flashback. Overall, it felt fresh and funny. Definitely recommend!

This is a very sweet movie. The whole stripper 69 thing is just the hook, but this movie is actually about friendship and growing up. It's really funny and well acted. Definitely has some campy moments, but they fit perfectly here. This movie isn't going to win an awards or anything, but it's a movie that does exactly what it sets out to do perfectly, which is to be a very sweet and fun coming of age story. That's why I give it a 10, because it achieved everything it aimed to achieve.

If you watched the trailer and you are on the fence about watching it because some of some of the more negative reviews, I would say ignore them. I read the reviews before I watched it and I found the negative reviews to be very out of touch, almost like they just didn't get it. I'm probably a bit older than the target audience for this movie, but I think anyone young or old who isn't bothered by sex jokes in a movie will enjoy this.