Words: Lien Hoang

After months of anticipation, the movie Love, Simon, based off the book Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, finally released in March with a 92% approval rate from Rotten Tomatoes.

What makes this comedic teen story such a hit?

Love, Simon follows a confused and closeted gay teenager named Simon Spier, played by Nick Robinson, who appears to have a normal life in the eyes of others, but on the inside, he is struggling to find himself. With no one to talk to about his internal conflict, Simon exchanges emails with an anonymous character named “Blue,” who understands exactly what he is going through. As time passes, Simon falls in love with this mysterious individual, wanting to meet him.

The relatable movie focuses on the topics of identity, friends, and family. Love, Simon presents a rare subject that is almost never seen in Hollywood: homosexuality. Simon’s heartwarming coming-of-age journey is inspirational and appropriate for teens and their parents. It highlights the ideas of acceptance and being comfortable with who you are. Love, Simon is the first major studio film featuring the main character as being gay and the whole movie revolves around him and his coming out story. Being the first of its kind, Love, Simon gives representation to the LGBTQ+ community, a group that is almost never mentioned in the mainstream movie industry.

Besides having a unique concept, the movie also includes an amazing cast and a spectacular plot.

Simon’s story is exhilarating and the movie takes you on a ferris wheel of emotions. Hopefully, Love, Simon can start a new trend that sheds light on the LGBTQ+ group.

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