Summer of 69

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.

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.

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!

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))

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.