Crush
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Crush
Crush is a 2022 American coming-of-age romantic comedy film distributed by Hulu, centered on high school senior Paige Evans. Accused of being an anonymous graffiti artist, Paige joins the track team to avoid suspension, aiming to get closer to her long-time crush, Gabby. However, she unexpectedly develops feelings for Gabby's twin sister, AJ, leading to a queer romance narrative. The film is notable for its positive and normalized portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships, focusing on "queer joy" without the typical "coming out" struggles. Intended for a young adult audience, it explores themes of self-discovery, first love, and acceptance within a contemporary high school setting.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The film explicitly centers on LGBTQ+ themes and relationships. The protagonist, Paige, is an openly lesbian character who initially has a crush on Gabby but ultimately falls in love with Gabby's twin sister, AJ. The narrative normalizes queer relationships, portraying them as accepted within the school and family environment, and emphasizes 'queer joy' over 'coming out' narratives. The director and writers identify as queer, basing the script on personal experiences.
Paige (Rowan Blanchard) is an openly lesbian high school artist with a long-time crush on Gabby Campos (Isabella Ferreira), a popular track athlete. The central romantic plot develops between Paige and AJ Campos (Auli'i Cravalho), Gabby's reserved twin sister, culminating in them sharing multiple kisses and becoming a couple. Paige's mother, Angie (Megan Mullally), is depicted as overtly supportive and 'sex-positive' regarding Paige's lesbian identity and romantic life.
Romance and Sexual Content
The film features significant romantic and sexual content, including multiple instances of kissing between same-sex characters, implied sexual activity, suggestive dialogue, and discussions around sexuality. The TV-MA rating is partly attributed to 'inferences to sex, tons of innuendo,' and a 'dental dam scene.' The film has a generally 'sex-positive' tone.
Profanity
The film contains consistent use of strong language and profanity throughout, contributing to its TV-MA rating. This includes expletives commonly used in modern teen media.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Given the TV-MA rating, explicit discussions of sexuality, implied sexual content, consistent profanity, and depiction of underage drinking and drug use, a recommendation for ages 16+ is appropriate. Mature teens may be able to handle the themes with parental guidance, particularly regarding the portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships and substance use. The film normalizes LGBTQ+ themes and sexual exploration among teenagers, which may be a significant concern for some Christian parents.
Good to Know
The film's strength lies in its normalized and joyful portrayal of a lesbian teen romance, which can be a positive for LGBTQ+ youth seeking representation. However, Christian parents should be aware that this normalization, coupled with mature themes like casual sex references, underage drinking, and consistent profanity, positions the film for an older teen audience (16+). The film lacks traditional 'coming out' struggles, presenting an environment where queer identity is largely accepted by peers and family.
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