ARNEZ C
This was so enjoyable I thought it was sweet too definitely not average covering of age story It was I can't believe they did the Tom Cruise for risky business that was a great moment This was great work Sam Morelos I'm still pissed to canceled that '90 show can't wait to see what's next for you The stripper element was nice I like how having dressed up as a zombie to save her that was cool he said I'm done with magic Mike's awkward niece 🤣
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
05/14/25
Full Review
Trevor R
Incredible. Hilarious. Finally some good TV
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
05/14/25
Full Review
James C
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the film industry hard. We now live in a world where sequels, remakes and the like are considered the only “safe bet” for theatrical releases. The mid-level budget movie no longer exists; studios only trust specific genres to perform. Action and Horror dominate the box office, but gone are the days of seeing a Judd Apatow or Kevin Smith raunchy comedy in the theatres—and that is a damn shame.
Every decade, we are treated to an R-rated, coming-of-age teen comedy that speaks to its generation. In the 80s, we were blessed with Fast Times at Ridgemont High AND The Last American Virgin. The 90s gave us Dazed and Confused AND American Pie. Then the cash grabs began. Studios started delivering a slew of “T and A” comedies that focused less on the story and more on fulfilling the teenage boy fantasy. That isn’t to say that the following movies had no merit, but the goalposts shifted, and the message was lost. We came close to a resurgence in 2018 with the release of Blockers, which took the American Pie formula and flipped it on its head, delivering a sex positive story about young women looking to claim their sexuality. Still, sadly, the pandemic interrupted the momentum that Blockers had started.
Enter Summer of 69, the directorial debut of actress Jillian Bell. Proving once again that actors make the best directors, Bell delivers a film that pays homage to the past while paving the way to a new and exciting future for teen comedies.
The biggest disappointment of this movie is that it did not receive a theatrical release, so I could enjoy it with a room full of movie lovers and comedy fans. If this movie feels familiar, it’s because it is. And if it feels different, it’s because it is.
Abby (Sam Morelos) is a high schooler on the precipice of graduating, when she discovers that her lifelong crush is newly single. How can a young, modern woman close the deal with such a hunk, you ask? Well, by mastering a particular sex act, of course (the title is VERY literal). But when you’re a video gaming, online streaming, sexually insecure dork, you need a little help. So, she turns to the pinnacle of seduction and sexual experience, an exotic dancer named Santa Monica (Chloe Fineman). Like all the best coming-of-age, teen sex romps, a financial deal is secured, and Abby offers to pay Santa Monica $20,000 for sex lessons, which is lucky, because the strip club that Santi works for is in a ton of debt.
From there, you can imagine what follows. What you might not expect is how gut-bustingly funny the jokes are, and how incredibly touching the film becomes. This is not a film that pits women against women, but a sex positive story about friendship and women supporting women.
Don’t get me wrong, this is a naughty, potty-mouthed comedy, but it has far more heart than most and left me with more than a few tears in my eyes.
Newcomer Sam Morelos is the absolute heart of this movie. She is bold and strong, but navigates the waters of awkward dork like a true thespian. She delivers funny, heartbroken, desperate, and charming in rapid succession.
I knew Chloe Fineman was going to be funny. As a longtime fan of SNL, she has demonstrated for years that she can be funny every week. What I wasn’t prepared for was the transcendent performance she delivered. This is not a case of an experienced comedienne being good enough - she is excellent in this. Brilliant even. I can’t wait to see her career in dramatic pieces now that she has bulldozed the door down.
The supporting cast is also great. We see Charlie Day in a villainous role, Paula Pell as a bad-at-maths businesswoman and a host of other wonderful performers, including Matt Cornett, Nicole Byer, Liza Koshy, Natalie Morales and Alex Moffatt as the strip club DJ with a heart of gold.
This is the decade-defining coming-of-age comedy we’ve been waiting for and proof that Comedy deserves its place in the theatre. I hope you fall in love with it like I have.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
05/13/25
Full Review
Audience Member
Clearly, this movie is heavily influenced by "Risky Business." But instead of the somewhat aggressive male energy of that Tom Cruise classic (Guido, anyone?), this film brings a sweet, feminine vibe to the table. It’s a fun comedy with some genuinely hilarious moments—like when Betty, the burned-out older stripper, picks up the phone and mutters, “Diamond Dolls, where girls are... (exasperated) I don’t know, I can’t remember.”
Still, the movie never feels particularly compelling. The stakes just aren’t there. The lead actress is refreshingly different, Chloe Fineman is always a delight on screen, and Charlie Day is a welcome presence. Overall, I give it a thumbs up—not because it’s perfect, but because it’s a kind, coming-of-age story. And honestly, these days, that’s about all my fragile psyche can handle.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
05/13/25
Full Review
patrick S
I liked it was really fun.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
05/13/25
Full Review
Jen D
This movie was surprisingly heartwarming for a story about a stripper teaching a teenage girl to 69.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
05/12/25
Full Review
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