Love, Simon opens with a teenage boy talking directly to the audience about his crush. That’s the whole pitch, and it works. Simon Spier is a high school student in suburban Atlanta who falls for a classmate he knows only as Blue. Blue never shows up in the frame. He’s a voice on a forum thread, a name on a profile, and a mystery that drives the whole movie. The film spends nearly every scene circling back to that question: who is Blue, and how does Simon find him?
This is a coming-of-age story dressed as a romantic comedy, and it wears both labels proudly. The jokes land more often than they miss, and the emotional beats feel earned rather than forced. It’s a rare film about gay teenagers that treats them as actual teenagers first, and that choice is the movie’s biggest strength.
Trailer, via 20th Century Studios.
Simon’s Secret
Simon’s secret is the engine of the plot. He tells no one about his crush, not even his best friends Leah and Martin, who he trusts completely. The secrecy eats at him. He hides his phone when his parents walk past, and he reads Blue’s posts in secret. The tension builds slowly, but it never goes away.
The film doesn’t rush the reveal. Blue stays hidden until the final act, and the payoff lands because the movie has spent so long building the relationship between the two boys. Their connection exists entirely through words, and the film trusts that bond enough to keep Blue off screen for long stretches.
The Supporting Cast
The adults in Simon’s life are mostly absent, which works in the film’s favor. His parents are loving but oblivious, and the movie doesn’t waste time making them homophobic. They just don’t get what their son is going through, and that lack of understanding is its own kind of pressure. The same goes for his older brother, who shows up briefly and adds texture without taking over the story.
Leah and Martin round out Simon’s inner circle. Leah is the one who pushes him to come out, and her scenes are some of the funniest in the film. Martin is the comic relief, but he also carries real weight. The three of them form a tight unit, and their friendship holds the story together when the central romance threatens to drift.
The Forum Thread
The forum thread is the heart of the story. Simon and Blue exchange messages there, and those exchanges carry the emotional core of the film. They talk about everything from Star Wars to family life, and each post feels lived-in. The thread isn’t a gimmick; it’s the main way the two characters interact, and the film trusts that format fully.
The thread also serves a practical purpose. It lets the film show Simon’s crush without showing Blue’s face, which keeps the mystery alive. The audience knows who Blue is, but Simon never does, and that gap creates genuine suspense. When the film finally reveals Blue’s identity, the moment lands because the setup has been patient.
The Comedy
Love, Simon is funny, and it’s funny in a clean, PG-13 way. The jokes about Simon’s family, his friends, and his school life are sharp without being cruel. The film understands its target audience, and it plays to that audience with confidence. The humor is part of the tone, not a separate layer slapped on top.
Some of the best jokes come from Simon’s attempts to hide his phone. He pretends to be doing homework when his parents walk by, and the physical comedy works because the stakes are real. The film knows that fear is funny, but only when the fear is sincere.
The Drama
The drama is where Love, Simon earns its weight. Simon’s anxiety about coming out is treated with care, and the film doesn’t soften the struggle. His parents are supportive, but that doesn’t make the decision any easier. The film acknowledges that being gay is still difficult in 2018, and it doesn’t pretend otherwise.
The climax is a scene where Simon confronts Blue at a party, and the tension is palpable. The film holds the moment without rushing it, and the payoff is honest. Simon finds Blue, and the revelation changes everything. It’s a cathartic ending, but it’s also a realistic one. Love, Simon understands that coming out is a process, not a single event.
The Craft
The film is competently made, with a strong cast and a script that knows what it wants to say. The pacing is steady, and the editing keeps the runtime tight. There’s no wasted footage, and the story moves quickly enough to hold attention.
The direction is confident, and the camera work is unobtrusive. The film doesn’t try to be flashy, and that restraint pays off. It’s a story about feelings, and it lets those feelings breathe. The music is used sparingly, and when it does arrive, it fits the moment.
The Audience
Love, Simon was made for young audiences, and it delivers on that promise. The film is accessible without being patronizing, and it handles its subject matter with respect. It’s a film about being gay that doesn’t treat that identity as a problem to be solved. It treats it as a fact of life, and that honesty is refreshing.
The film also has a broad appeal. Straight audiences can enjoy it, and gay audiences can see themselves represented. That balance is rare, and it’s one of the reasons the movie resonated so widely. It’s a universal story told with specificity.
The Final Word
Love, Simon is a solid, likable film. It’s not a masterpiece, but it doesn’t need to be. It does what it sets out to do, and it does it well. The film is a safe bet for anyone looking for a warm, funny story about finding yourself.
The ending is happy, and that’s the right call. Love, Simon earns its optimism. It’s a film about acceptance, and it practices what it preaches.
Key Facts
– Title: Love, Simon
– Year: 2018
– Director: Greg Berlanti
– Runtime: 1 hour, 47 minutes
– Score: 7.2/10
- Main Characters:
- Simon Spier (played by Nick Robinson)
- Blue (an online presence only)
- Leah (played by Alexandra Shipp)
- Martin (played by Josh Duhamel)
Love, Simon is a small, focused film that knows its limits. It doesn’t try to be more than it is, and that restraint is its greatest strength. It’s a pleasant watch, and it leaves the viewer feeling better afterward. It’s not essential viewing, but it’s worth seeing.
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