Love, Simon
Love, Simon is a 2018 American teen romantic comedy-drama film that tells the story of Simon Spier, a closeted gay high school student in Atlanta. The film follows Simon's journey as he navigates the complexities of concealing his sexual identity from his family and friends, while simultaneously developing an anonymous online romance with a classmate known only as "Blue." His secret life becomes threatened when a fellow student discovers his emails and blackmails him, forcing Simon to confront his fears and ultimately decide when and how to come out. Based on Becky Albertalli's novel "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda," the movie explores themes of self-discovery, friendship, family acceptance, and the universal desire for a great love story. It is widely recognized as a groundbreaking mainstream film for featuring a gay teenage protagonist and his romantic narrative. The film targets preadolescents, adolescents, and young adults, offering a heartfelt and often humorous look at the challenges and triumphs of finding oneself and belonging. The content includes discussions of LGBTQ+ identity, mild language, and some suggestive romantic elements, contributing to its PG-13 rating. While the film addresses social bullying and the emotional intensity of coming out, it maintains a generally optimistic and supportive tone. A sequel television series, "Love, Victor," has further expanded the universe, continuing to explore LGBTQ+ themes with more diverse representation.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe film's entire premise revolves around Simon Spier's identity as a closeted gay teenager and his journey to self-acceptance and coming out. It prominently features his romantic feelings for another boy and explores the social and emotional challenges associated with being openly gay in high school, including bullying and the fear of judgment.
Simon's opening voiceover explicitly states, "I'm just like you. I have a totally perfectly normal life. Except I have one huge-ass secret," which is that he is gay. The central plot involves Simon falling in love with an anonymous male classmate, 'Blue,' through email correspondence, culminating in their public reveal and kiss on a Ferris wheel. Martin blackmails Simon after discovering his private emails, threatening to out him to the entire school. Simon's mother, Emily, offers him profound support when he comes out, telling him, "You are still you, Simon."
Violence
MediumThe film contains no physical violence, gore, or graphic injury. However, it features instances of emotional and social bullying, particularly targeting LGBTQ+ characters, which can be intense and distressing. This bullying is a significant plot device that drives Simon's fears and challenges.
Martin publicly posts Simon's private emails on the school's gossip site, outing Simon without his consent, leading to immediate humiliation and homophobic taunts from some classmates. Ethan, an openly gay student, is subjected to mockery and bullying in the school cafeteria by other students, witnessed by Simon.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomantic relationships are a central theme, focusing on teen crushes, flirting, and first love. There are several kissing scenes, particularly between same-sex characters, and some suggestive dialogue, though nothing explicit. The content aligns with a typical PG-13 romantic comedy.
Simon and Bram share a romantic kiss on the Ferris wheel at the school carnival, a culmination of their online courtship, celebrated by their friends and classmates. Simon's parents, Emily and Jack, have a playful conversation about watching the TV show 'The Affair,' with Emily joking, 'God forbid we should watch people make love,' hinting at mature themes of romance. Martin's drunken attempt to kiss Abby at a party, which is non-consensual from Abby's perspective, serves as an instigating factor for his blackmail of Simon.
Profanity
MediumThe film includes occasional mild to moderate profanity, consistent with a PG-13 rating. This includes a few expletives used by teenage characters in casual or frustrated contexts.
In his opening narration, Simon describes his secret as "one huge-ass secret." A short trailer clip includes a character saying, "disclaimer this is about to get romantic as f."
Substance Use
MediumThe film depicts underage alcohol consumption at a high school party. This is not glamorized, but it is shown as a part of the teenage social scene, with consequences like Martin's behavior while intoxicated.
Simon's narration notes that he and his friends "drink way too much," indicating underage alcohol use as a regular activity among the teenagers. At a high school party, Martin is visibly intoxicated when he makes an unwanted advance on Abby, an action that directly leads to the blackmail plot against Simon.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumWhile not a horror film, 'Love, Simon' contains emotionally intense moments and suspense related to the blackmail plot and Simon's fear of being outed. The public exposure of his private life and the subsequent bullying create significant emotional distress.
The blackmail storyline, where Martin threatens to expose Simon's emails and private sexuality to the entire school, creates a sustained sense of anxiety and fear for Simon throughout a significant portion of the film. Simon experiences intense emotional distress and public humiliation when his emails are posted online, leading to him being mocked in the cafeteria by his peers.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe film features significant acts of disrespect and manipulation among peers, particularly related to the blackmail plot. Simon also engages in deceptive behavior towards his friends due to the pressure he is under.
Martin's act of blackmailing Simon and subsequently posting his private emails without consent constitutes a severe act of disrespect and invasion of privacy. Simon, in an attempt to comply with the blackmail and protect his secret, manipulates the romantic relationships of his friends, leading to arguments and temporary estrangement with Leah, Nick, and Abby.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThe movie is a contemporary teen romantic comedy-drama focused on realistic social and emotional challenges. There are no elements of witchcraft, magic, sorcery, occult practices, demons, spells, or any other supernatural themes present in the narrative.
The film's plot centers entirely on the high school experience, personal identity, and relationships, without incorporating any fantastical or supernatural elements. There are no characters depicted practicing magic or engaging with occult symbols or rituals.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe movie does not contain any explicit anti-Christian themes. It focuses on universal coming-of-age experiences in a secular high school setting. While the topic of LGBTQ+ acceptance can be sensitive for some Christian perspectives, the film itself does not directly criticize or mock Christian beliefs.
The narrative does not feature any religious characters or direct discussions of Christian doctrine, choosing instead to portray a supportive, though sometimes challenged, family unit and friend group. While one review mentions that 'church talk about the LGBTQ+ community' can cause fear and isolation for queer adolescents, this is an external commentary and not a direct portrayal within the film itself as an anti-Christian theme.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
PG-13. The film is recommended for teenagers 13 and older due to its central themes of LGBTQ+ identity and coming out, which involve emotional intensity, discussions of sexuality, instances of bullying, and some mild profanity and alcohol use. It tackles complex social dynamics and emotional challenges suitable for mature adolescents.
Additional Notes
The film 'Love, Simon' focuses solely on the journey of a white, cisgender gay male. While groundbreaking for mainstream cinema, some critics have noted that its representation of queer identity is somewhat narrow and 'homonormative.' The subsequent television series 'Love, Victor' expands on these themes by featuring a Latinx gay protagonist and exploring a wider range of LGBTQ+ experiences, offering more diverse representation for parents to consider across the franchise.
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