Alex Strangelove

Synopsis:

Alex Truelove is a well-rounded high school senior with a wonderful girlfriend Claire and a bright future ahead of him – and with plans to achieve his last teenage milestone by losing his virginity. But things get complicated when he meets Elliot, a handsome and charming gay kid from the other side of town, who unwittingly sends Alex on a rollercoaster journey of sexual exploration, kicking off a hilarious and moving adventure of love, sex and friendship in our liberated and confusing modern times.

Quick Thoughts:

With a handful of other teenage coming-of-age and coming-out films in recent years, even Netflix hopped on the bandwagon with “Alex Strangelove”. The plot itself has become rather standard among queer films: a high school teenage boy entering the world of sex while discovering his own sexuality is a bit different than the norm. And with a handful of moments that are very reminiscent of “Edge of Seventeen”, this is a film that feels familiar; like we have seen it before. But thankfully, “Alex Strangelove” has an updated plot to reach a modern audience. Although the entire film has received the “Disney” treatment, aka removal of any hint of sexual activity beyond kissing and a “sex scene” that happens entirely under blankets, this queer coming out film does adequately portray the struggles of a modern teenager learning about their sexuality. I will always support more coming out films so that our queer and questioning youth can see themselves represented during this challenging time, “Alex Strangelove” is a film that sits in the middle. It’s not bad; it’s not a standout. But it’s still an enjoyable queer coming out film to watch.