Yo soy Simón

I didn't think I would, but - I loved it.

The first 15 minutes or so, I cringed a few times, thinking it was going to be too clever, too cute, and too precious for its own good.

But even my cynical, hard-hearted self soon melted with the realization that the intelligence, depth, and charm were all legitimate and sincere.

I left the theater with a full heart and am confident "Love, Simon" will remain with me as one of my favorites of this new film year.

Helmed to be one of this generation's homage to John Hughes (well-curated soundtrack, romantic comedy in a high school setting), we're not exaggerating when we say this is the movie we needed when my generation was growing up.

Back in the day, I remember there was only one gay character on mainstream media: Jack McPhee from Dawson's Creek, a football player originally brought in to play a love triangle with Dawson and Joey. Eventually he broke TV grounds when he came out as gay and was the first featured ever male gay kiss on primetime television. This was back in the year 2000.

Going further back, the other gay character I had access to was Matt Fielding from Melrose Place in the early 90s. For a show that was all about gossip and scandals, surprisingly enough it relegated Matt in the background as the token gay character, way before the term was even conceived.

Fast forward to today and we have Love, Simon, a coming-of-age movie about Simon Spier, who is gay but is unable to come out for fear of being bullied and ridiculed and ends up exchanging anonymous messages with the other gay person in his school hiding under the name Blue. When a fellow student comes across their exchanges, Simon is forced further to remain in the closet when he is blackmailed to score the guy a date with one his girl friends (ah, don't you just miss high school life?)

Whether it was intentional that aside from the lead every one else (i.e. straight) was relegated to the background as supporting characters mostly because they didn't prolong some of the conflicts enough, making it seem like coming out is that easy. Sometimes it is, sometimes it can be messy. But the point is you'll never know until you try. And even if the movie didn't get it all right, it echoes what the lead Nick Robinson said in one his interviews, it's at least a conversation starter.

As a lover of LGBT movies on someone who has experience the coming out process, I felt this movie was way too far fetched and slightly cringey. The ending was so unbelievable unrealistic and out there what I was hard pressed to keep watching. Especially having read the book and how smoothly the events unfolded in the written version, I feel like the film adaptation was not entirely believable, and mostly just cheesy.

That being said, I would still recommend people watch it as some might enjoy it. The protagonist was charming and cute as hell, and the whole thing was pretty uplifting.

Love, Simon is a very touching, heartwarming story about a relatable teenager with a big secret. This film is entirely relatable for anyone who has been in high school. Viewers don't need to share Simon's exact problems in order to enjoy this film. That's what makes it so special! The characters are all well-thought out and the story is very funny, interesting, and emotional. This is a film for everyone!

Here are my thoughts about Love, Simon:

First, it was definitely the best movie adaptation of a book I've ever seen. Hands down. It was also an extremely authentic story to begin with, and it translated so well as a movie.

Second, I wish this movie had been around when I was younger. The message of love and acceptance was so powerful, and the way Simon and his friends were portrayed was amazing. Kudos to the actors. The whole theater was cheering, laughing, and crying with them.

Representation matters. Our kids need to see themselves on screen in movies like this.