Totally in Love(, Simon)

I watched the movie just an hour ago when I started writing this and I don’t know where to start. I guess we'll start with my rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars!

There have been a lot of gay movies before, but this one just feels more powerful. I guess it’s because it truly speaks to our generation (Generation Z) and how we can’t help but see ourselves in some, if not one, of the characters in the movie.

Simon is incredibly relatable. He’s a boy going through puberty while in high school—it’s a time for awkwardness in any... actually, every aspect of his life. What I loved the most about this movie is that, it’s told like the book, in Simon’s point of view. You get to know what Simon is thinking and feeling, and the thing is… you can’t help but click with him.

The movie did veer off the book, but I’ve never been happier that it did. I’m not going to spoil any part of the movie—at least, I’ll try not to—but I have to say, that the way the movie unrolled, it’s even better than the book. This is the only time I’ve said that, and I have to say that the people who wrote the script for this (Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger) did an amazing job of bringing the essence and details of the book unto the movie.

The actor, Nick Robinson, was an even better picture of Simon than I could ever have come up with. The rest of the main cast, Katherine Langford as Leah, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Nick, Alexandra Shipp as Abby, and Logan Miller as Martin, brought the book to life in a way that it feels as if it wasn’t fiction. The emotions were raw and real, and I will admit that I cried… more than once.

I was quite taken aback that Simon’s e-mail account wasn’t what it was in the book—I’m thinking maybe someone already has the e-mail address, but I’m happy that they had it on his chalkboard wall and that there was still a back-story as to how he came up with the new e-mail address.

Now that I’m thinking about it, the movie is better than the book because in the movie, Simon’s coming out (and his emotions about it) was the focus, not his pursuit of romance or figuring out who Blue is like in the book. I’m not saying that the book isn’t great, but making the main focus an aspect of being gay rather than the romance makes the movie even more powerful than the book. Also because movies are a better way to get the message out than books, since not a lot of people read nowadays.

Not even a quarter into the year and 2018 has already dished out so many good movies, Love, Simon is definitely one of the top movies I’ve ever seen and not just because I’m part of the QUILT BAG (or LGBTQIA+) community, but also because it finally gives a voice to a group of people who just want to be heard.

The movie has touched my heart, and I’m hoping that its message will reach people. It’s not just about the romance. It’s about Simon being gay, how he chooses how much of it will affect his life, and how he came out.

I just have one thing to say now: I love you, Simon. Thank you for letting Becky Albertalli tell your story.