I used to only check reviews on each movie but never wrote one. This is my first comment because this movie has really struck me speechless.
It's actually an interesting story. I came across the novel by accident and fell in love with the something like ... gay universe. I recommended the series to my friend and he told me there was actually a movie adaptation. I was so excited at first but after the first 5 minutes, I realized I had seen it before and given it up because back then I thought it was disturbingly cringe. Ok I gave it another shot because I love this series so much and it's nothing but cringe.
From the adaptation perspective, it's a failure. The main reason is that the way Jay Bell wrote the series is plot-dense. The series is like a high-schooler diary (not in a bad way) so it is absolutely not possible to cram it into 2 hours. As a result, the movie left out a great deal of important details. For me, it is more of an illustration of the book than a movie. If I haven't read the series, I am sure I will never understand what's going on in each scene before it moves suddenly to some years later.
From the casting perspective, I disagree with some of the previous reviews. Allison is actually really great with sweat voice and satisfactory acting. Ben, Jace and Tim are total disaster. Especially for Tim, he is supposed to be the most handsome one given the fact that his beauty is constantly mentioned in the book. Their acting.... let's just not talk about it.
From the cringe perspective, the movie is soooo awkward. Everything seems cheap and fake. From their motives, dialogue, emotion to the setting and musical, it's just screaming we are underfunded! All these important scenes in the first book are either cut out or carried out in complete awkwardness. They made every line sound ridiculous and emotionless. So I didn't feel particularly touched but sorry for these actors and actresses because they must have felt embarrassed as well. As for the some years passed by part, they really should have done more.
Anyway, I really appreciate their efforts. The something like series is really good so if you have found the movie somewhat intriguing but haven't read the series yet, please read it. Then you will understand what I mean by this is illustration but not an adaptation.
