Movie Review: 'Alex Strangelove'

When it comes to teenagers, it can be hard for them to navigate the bizarre train that is their ever-changing bodies and emotions. Initially, though, you might think differently regarding Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny), a likable and funny high school senior who seems to have his life all together. Doting parents, good friends, and a loving girlfriend in his friend Claire (Madeline Weinstein) who plans to go with him to the same college they've applied to, Alex seems to have everything together.

Except for one thing: he's yet to lose his virginity to Claire, much to the chidings of his best friend Dell (Daniel Zolghadri). Further complicating things is Alex's chance meeting with the openly gay Elliott (Antonio Marziale), who leads Alex to questioning his sexuality and wondering if he's really willing to go through with his initial plans to consummate his relationship with Claire. With his doubts causing trouble between him and Claire and sending his life into a tailspin, can Alex find himself without losing everything he loves?

Critics and viewers alike have compared Netflix's latest original teen flick with the critically acclaimed Love, Simon, which made headlines for being a feature film from a major studio about an LGBT relationship. Alex Strangelove definitely aims to recreate what made Love, Simon dazzle critics and audiences, though it appeared the creators went into the film wanting to portray the more emotionally and psychologically exhausting aspects of sexual identity, which is certainly a good way to tackle a film about a topic that is difficult for both teens and adults.

Unfortunately, Alex Strangelove fails to recapture the magic of Love, Simon, largely due to the disorganized feel of the film's flow. It takes a good while for Alex's sexuality conflict occurs, with the movie instead taking the time to have Dell and his crew of equally idiotic friends get high off an illegally smuggled frog (it makes about as much sense with context) before he imagines talking garden hoses and devours handfuls of gummy worms. And unfortunately, once Alex's main story begins, it appears to go through motions, with both the film's pace and Alex's weakly developed personality outside of his sexuality confusion making it difficult to become emotionally invested in his anguish. There are also plot points that seem to only exist to provide cheap attempts of sentiment for the characters and audiences, such as Claire's cancer-stricken mother (who we never see suffer from her illness) and Alex being rejected from his dream college (an revelation that is made and then dropped immediately afterwards).

Speaking of Alex Strangelove's cast, it's overall a mixed bag in terms of quality. While Daniel Doheny is likable enough as the film's titular protagonist, he's never really given enough of a distinct personality to make many viewers invested in his struggle to find himself. While Antonio Marziale is more distinct as Alex's first possible male love interest, Dell comes off as so vapid, self-centered, and insensitively dismissive of Alex's struggles that it makes one wonder why Alex even puts up with him (as well as taking away from Dell's stab at character development in calling out his long-term crush for using his emotions for her own devices). The definite stand out of the bunch is Madeline Weinstein as Alex's girlfriend and the center of much of the film's conflict. Rather than being treated as merely a plot point, Claire is developed into a genuine and empathetic character—one who ultimately acts as a supportive stepping stone to her conflicted friend.

In regards to Alex Strangelove's status as an LGBT film, the movie's good intentions are unfortunately unable to make up for the film's lackluster presentation. While there are admirable attempts to address the complex world of sexual identity, especially regarding the stereotypical link between sexuality and attitudes towards sex, they're never addressed beyond a surface level. Additionally, Dell is never really called out for his cavalier treatment of Alex's struggles and the frustrating trend of LGBT cinema omitting bisexuality from the sexuality spectrum returns here as Alex's belief that he's bisexual is mocked by Dell and ultimately forgotten entirely. For all of the ambitions Alex Strangelove might have had, the film fails to truly develop them into a compelling story.

LGBT cinema is becoming much more visible in recent years, which is a change that many are happy to see. But as the genre becomes more widely utilized, there will be films that won't be as authentic as Love, Simon or as profound as Brokeback Mountain. Alex Strangelove is one such movie, with its' noble intentions not being able to make up for the film's underwhelming and at times downright botched execution. While it's not likely to spark outrage, Alex Strangelove likely won't rise to the ranks of its' acclaimed predecessors.

Score: 4 out of 10 illegal frogs.