Everybody deserves a great love story... LOVE, SIMON

We all look the same at first sight. Most of us come from a family that raised us. Have a group of friends that love us. We go to work or school. We struggle with the same issues about love, dreams, career, but we don't know much about the battles we all go through everyday. Personal challenges that shape any person into a fighter or a quitter. Coming to age stories always help us to remind us all this anxiety and fun while we were figuring out ourselves. Who can forget those days hanging with friends for hours doing nothing but trying to figure out the world, or those long hours of waiting to see or talk to the person we had a crush on, or how drunk we got at every Friday's party. We all share those kind of moments but there a few that go through different experiences. Because they share a secret that at some point needs to come out. And that is exactly the coming out process they need to go through but since even these days, where society is more open minded about it and we've been going through a lot of progress regarding acceptance and tolerance, it is still a defining moment in a gay person to accept himself as it is and come out to his/her family and friends. Why? Because they don't know what it would be once their truth is out. They don't want things to change in terms of the people they love but they do need things to change regarding their social and romantic life. How  can anyone could be willing to be fully loved and accepted if they don't know him/her completely. Only by being transparent and honest to ourselves, anyone can say others will get to know you and love you for who you are rather of for who you pretend to be and because life is about loving ourselves instead of fulfilling others expectations it's time of acceptance and face things the way we are.

And that is basically the story behind "Love, Simon" (2018), a romantic comedy about the process of coming out for those misfits hiding afraid of embracing themselves. Simon is a seventeen year old guy that navigates through high school just as any other kid. He has a lovely family that supports him and he loves them back. He feels lucky to have a group of friends that he knows since they were kids, so he definitely doesn't want things to change. He feels so fortunate to ruin things the way they are. But he's secret is killing him from inside, holding him back from being what he truly is. Until one day another guy secretly comes out at school motivating him to start taking baby steps on himself. The fact of having someone able to talk to, that is going through the same process, is comforting and exciting. So when both start talking to each other anonymously, they inspire each other to start accepting themselves. But as their journey get them closer, challenges may approach and they will have to face the moment of start coming out in front of others. That nerve breaking moment of telling someone you love that you are not what they thought but at the same time you are still the same and expecting them to love you as usual is a life changing moments that just a few have to go through and at some point the movie makes fun of that, turning the table to the fact that why straight people doesn't need to come out? Why if we all are equals and sexual preference is no longer a taboo or myth, why only the LGBT community has to face this moment in their lives, and they manage to do it in a very funny way, thanks to the vision and touch of tv guru Greg Berlanti, in his directorial debut, openly gay himself, trying to tell a story that can relate to everybody and trying to avoid all possible cliches about what a majority will think being gay represents.

And feels like this is the main reason for this movie to be made. Based on the popular novel Simon vs The Homo sapiens agenda, it's  adaptation comes a little bit late for a time where we are pass through the fight for acceptance and proving that being gay is ok and it's as normal as being straight. But even the timing doesn't help to make it feel fresh, its story and beloved characters will prove that a coming to age story can relate to anyone because there is always a different niche struggling to let their voice been heard. And now is the time for the LGBT community to expose their struggle when coming out as a gay person and for all the rest to get to see and understand what they go through in order to being accepted. So Simon, is just as a regular guy as it can be. He spends time with his family, friends, go partying, school, watch games, has dreams. Just as any other guy would do far from the cliches about what being gay represents and not because he is not aware of them but just because it is not a rule and he feels comfortable enough to be who he is just the way he is. No need of pretend to be someone else. No musicals, fit clothes, diva references. He is just an average Joe that happens to like other regular guys. And while we join him through his search of this anonymous guy, we'll learn that love comes in many shapes, and bases itself in that connection rather than just mere attraction. The need to find someone that can hold you hand while you going through a life changing situation makes a whole of a difference. And friends will make anyone's journey easier to handle and more fun than it seems. But finding that right person that deserves to hold your heart is a quest that no motion picture has encounter yet.

So what is so special about this movie compared with other similar teenager movies? Like those classics from the 80's? Well, let's say that special the fact that is a movie to define a whole new generation and the ones that had no chance or opportunity to come out like this and had to live their lives hiding and ashamed of their situation. Because let's remember that not long time ago, being gay was still an issue. Someone that was define as an homosexual was cursed, evil, marked as someone bad, and not even close to the idea of them getting marries or been seen holding hands or kissing in public. They were stereotyped as men trying to be girls and women pretending to be boys. But not anymore. Now that the dust has cleared out and we get to see them coming out and proud, we can realize that they are as normal as anyone else. But still, there is still this moment happening when they have to come out about their preferences to their beloved ones. But for those that don't have to go through that sounds like a minor thing, so movies like this that show it not as a big deal but a life changing event in their lives, is refreshing when we get to see how some people need to have that talk and express their preferences to the people around them not because things will change but because they will be looking after someone of their same sex. And the fact that they have to do it, means that they are looking that validation, and acceptance from others. Knowing that they'll be still loved is all what matters from this experience. There is a crucial scene in the movie where Simon finally sits and talks with his mom looking for some comfort after things seem like falling apart in school, and she admits that she didn't know or expect this but she noticed that at some point he was holding himself back, like hiding something or carrying a big secret within, and now that the secret is out, she still loves him as always and nothing will change because he is still her same son. And that moments represents this whole coming out situation.

So maybe you don't need to come out from your own sexual preferences, but maybe you also have some secrets that are holding you back from being the real you or reach your full potential, or maybe you know and love someone that has or is at this moment or you just an avid fan of romantic comedies where love as a whole comes along any obstacle and proves that is one of the major forces that unite And just as Simon journey to explore his feelings, and find the right one, while navigating the waters of puberty, friendship, family, responsibilities and all that stuff that anyone of us go through every day, we all can do better if we are able to be honest to ourselves and fight for our believes and convictions even they might not be well  taken for some and we'll have to face some rejections and criticism, but that is life in general, no matter your believes, preferences, gender, race, we all label other and point fingers so realizing that there is a lot of work to do in ourselves rather than being looking after others. But if you are in the need of coming out and are feeling trapped inside a big lie or secret, afraid of what might come after the truth, hoping for a better life for yourself where the people that supposedly loves you will also accept you, this movie is a must see for you, to get the courage and be inspired by the love and the possibility of a better option for yourself, where everyone around you that really cares and loves you won't care but for your happiness and will support you because love is unconditional, but for that, you need to love yourself and be real so others can see you for who you are rather than what are you pretend to be. Your bravery will inspire others even those ones so close minded to see how unique and special you are, unless you prefer to be another idiot but accepted rather than a misunderstood but loved one? So what it would be?...because you deserve a great story for the movie of your life.