Alex Strangelove (2018)

Gripping story with well-crafted characters

Good start, but then it gets ruined

Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

This movie really tries to be progressive. But adding a gay lead-character doesn't change the fact, that the writing is lazy and the acting is unconvincing.. Most of the characters are just teen-movie cliches talking in phrases. At no point in the movie so I feel like investing any emotions in any of characters. Lest of all the main character, Alex, who is really not that likable. To quote the movie: " You have your head up your ass so much; it's depressing"..Adding the gay layer to the story doesn't add much depth; it merely makes it seem like a 90's after-school special about 'It's okay to be gay'.. And the movie's view on queer people seems really stereotypical... It's like they are trying to be progressive, but really they are just reinforcing the gay stereotypes.

This was just something that I put on because I was bored, and oh my, it turned out to be a gem. It was awkward, like being a teenager is, funny, warm, decent acted, believable, realistic and heartwarming. I was rooting for Alex the whole time, yeah it was predictable, but it didn't matter. I fell in love with Alex and Elliot, felt love for them and with them while watching - isn't that the whole point? Watch it, it's worthy of your time.

What we have here is a personal story that feels a bit too personal. By that I mean it feels like it was made for a very select audience, perhaps even an audience of one. It's okay for filmmakers to create stories that mean a lot to themselves, but ideally they will mean a lot to many others as well.That's what made 'Ladybird' so wonderful. That's a personal story that feels personal to everyone. It's so full of empathy that all viewers can connect with it and be genuinely moved by it. 'Alex Strangelove' never reaches those heights.Plot-wise, here's the rub: Alex Truelove is a high school senior with typical high school senior problems. He is stressed about getting into the right college. He's stressed about school. He's stressed about figuring out this sex thing. His friends tell him sex is no big deal, but for some reason it hasn't happened for him. He loves his girlfriend, and she loves him too, but he has been putting off that part of their relationship. She doesn't know why and neither does he. Or maybe he does, but he isn't ready to admit it to himself yet. One night at a party, Alex meets a cool guy. Everything becomes harder and harder to understand. It's unclear to viewers, as it is unclear to Alex. He's on a journey to self-discovery. He just hasn't reached his destination yet. Daniel Doheny (the guy who plays Alex) is terrific. He successfully plays the part at various times as charming, funny, awkward, confused and downright mean. It's a challenging role to pull off, and he hits all the right notes. The actors who play Alex's girlfriend Claire (Madeline Weinstein) and the cool guy Elliot (Antonio Marziale) are both fine. They aren't as nuanced and realized as Doheny's Alex, but they don't stand out in a negative way. The film's resolution leaves a bit to be desired. Some loose ends remain untied. It probably would have been better to never introduce those storylines in the first place. The script would've been tighter, and nothing crucial would be lost. Overall, this is a funny and fun movie that's part 'Superbad' (because of the parties and foul language) and part 'Love, Simon' (because of the sexual self-discovery). But it isn't as good as either.

There have been so many wonderful gay movies made. Plus, much gay history can be viewed very well through the evolution of how the homosexual has been depicted on the screen since the very moment that the moving picture was invented. All of them are prologue to this film.From all of us old gay people who have lived and live still, and for those who have died, who have wanted real freedom for gay people this movie is what we wanted. The freedom to be who you are. Freely. As you live your own life, and as life happens to you. Bless you, our sons and daughters. Be free. It is what we wanted for you. It is what we want for everyone. Now it is who you are. Carry on, carry on.