Summer of 8 (2016) User Reviews

Flawed premise, wasted cast

[vicstevinson · 5/10 · 3 September 2016]

If this was about two or three out of the eight trying to reach a benchmark before college, that could have been feasible, but all eight? That's simply contrived.

The film plays out like a feature-length Beach Boys ode to youth, but has an awareness of what's happening that people usually don't grasp until long after the time has passed.

Shame, really, the cast is appealing and seems up to the task of a lighthearted last-day-before-college day at the beach, maybe some sexual intrigue, maybe a regret or two; but these are eight actors tasked with playing one role. This film could have been about them realizing just how divergent their personalities are, now that high school is behind them.

Beautifully made, even if it has its flaws

[RJBrez · 7/10 · 12 June 2020]

Summer of 8 is far from a masterpiece, but I've always enjoyed movies or stories that take place in one day, with a large group of friends. If you watch this movie and try to enjoy it for what it is, I promise you it's entertaining.

I can also guarantee that most people only dislike it because the cast is all white. Sadly, everyone expects these movies to be cast like a beer commercial but this is more realistic. Just because one group is represented it is misunderstood as racist and I'm sick of that narrative. I hate to break it to some of you, but every group of friends doesn't have every race represented. I can also watch a movie where the cast is primarily black and enjoy it just the same. So grow the hell up. It's 2020. If we want the race debate to ever go away, people need to stop bringing it up as a reason to piss and moan. It's a movie, relax. Okay rant over.

The cast is a little old to be portraying high school seniors, but this is nothing new. So it didn't bother me. The cinematography and score were excellent. I really felt the moment and could feel what they were feeling. I can't say I've ever experienced a day like this, but we've all had the day before a big change and this movie brought those feelings back for me.

Check it out for yourself and keep an open mind. Enjoy!

Empty Coming of Age Drama

[caspian1978 · 3/10 · 2 September 2016]

Summer of 8 appears to be a modern day Summer of 42 with the backdrop of a modern day Eden being the beach side world of youth and endless possibility. Most "Coming of Age" dramas include the subject matter of saying goodbye, losing ones virginity or letting go of the past in order to grow up. While Summer of 42 captures the age of innocence along with the struggle of entering adulthood, Summer of 8 falls short far from anything serious let alone entertaining. For starters, the movie cast 8 actors in their late 20's to portray a group of 18 year old recent high school graduates. Not only are most of the characters hard to keep track since all are attractive and look very similar. None of them represent a broad picture of today's youth. All are from well-to-do families since all are well dressed, well spoken and hardly have any real problems since the only issue is being young and having doubts about tomorrow. Although the premise offers a universal issue facing every generation, the cast and overall story fail to attract a large audience that would really care about any of them. The phony love scene is not only absent from the audience view but unrealistic and basically just as empty as the plot of the story. At the end of this 85 minute very slow story, the audience is left cheated, knowing that the only reason they gave this movie a chance was because of the movie's poster. The image of girls dressed in bikinis caught their eye. The limited eye candy along with 85 pages of endless dialogue and monologues makes Summer of 8 want to be taken serious but is nothing more than an empty drama.

The script is too trashy, weak and obscene.

[pedjoane · 2/10 · 31 October 2016]

"Eight close friends soak up their last day of summer together on the beach before parting ways for college."

This must be the longest day of the year because it seems like it will never end. Summer 8 it is like a porn movie without the action part.It's a long day at the beach that moves too slow. The sun is still high in the sky and you can't see the moment for it to end.

The script is too trashy, weak and obscene.

Nonetheless, i have to congratulate the cinematographer work making not only beautiful images but more important than that is appropriate images.

The reviews are missing the point.

[normancaleb1 · 10/10 · 15 January 2017]

As the title of this review suggests I believe people are missing the point of this movie. Summer of 8 might be a bit cliché at times but I think it's fully aware of that. The movie isn't just about the sexual conquests of the guys and how they just want to get laid before college; It's more than that. Summer of 8 is much more a film about exploring the small amount of time you have as a teenager; the feeling of infinity that you inevitably have to face up to when you become an adult. I really enjoyed this film, it was something that made me realise that everyone is scared of growing up and moving on from old friends isn't uncommon. I may be considered nieve for writing this review being that I'm only 17 and I don't know anything about growing up yet. Sometimes I just think the reviews of these types of movies aren't based so much on how people see them critically but more that they aren't hugely different from one another. Reviewers compare so much to other films that they don't try to understand it from a different perspective. All of the actors in Summer of 8 seemed genuine enough, and the chemistry was there. I think to really enjoy these types of movies sometimes you have to search deeper than just the surface. Sometimes trying to think through the characters is how you see what is actually there. Maybe that's just to hard for some people.

Missed Opportunity

[tcondino · 3/10 · 3 July 2019]

Nice premise. However, they look more like college seniors. Also, too deep talking for your typical high schooler. Plus, they listen to no music while hanging out. Great locales. The female cast did the better acting.

So sentimental

[princess-fairy2010 · 9/10 · 24 June 2020]

I'm a sucker for movies like this I'm not gonna lie. For me it was beautifully put together and I found myself smiling and laughing all throughout this movie. Beautiful scenery at the beach too

Not sure who this might appeal to - not me!

[redrobo · 2/10 · 8 January 2017]

This film left me wondering why it was made. A group of privileged middle-class American kids spend their last day together before separating to go to college. There is little other story, the movie meanders on with a script like a wet lettuce. I kept watching, expecting a twist, a bombshell to drop or just something interesting to happen. Sorry to say that the thing just limps on to the end with uninteresting conversation between uninteresting characters who have no depth. There's not even any friction between the characters that might add to the story. There was bit of getting off with each other towards the end but all a bit lame and only helped to re-enforce the tweeness.

I'm trying to find something positive to say about this movie but at the moment I'm just a bit too irritated at wasting 1½ hours of my time watching it. This may be for you if you are looking for an unchallenging film, where everyone is nice to each other, nothing nasty happens, there's a bit of slushy stuff and a happy ending. Perhaps middle-class Americans are able to relate to the characters and find hidden depths that just went straight over my head.

Tries to Be Deep But Isn't

[reneethorpe · 2/10 · 30 January 2022]

They came to talk... 8 teenaged friends gather on the beach for one last party before going separate ways (college). Characters are two dimensional and the script won't draw any of them in a sympathetic light. Conversations and personal concerns, meant to be heartrending and deep, are kinda almost similar to what bright kids talk about, but don't take the extra step of being remotely interesting.

Slow.

[brionnaheppner · 2/10 · 29 March 2021]

This movie was slow. Too slow. The plot had potential and the scenes had beauty, but the movie dragged. Acting was dull.

Very well written movie

[medogerty · 10/10 · 10 July 2021]

The way the actors talk is very realistic (though they look a bit old for the part). The writers did an amazing job portraying the differences in individual perspectives and how they act with one another. Though I can see how someone can get bored of it, for those who can relate to a similar situation, Summer of 8 will trigger emotions you feel in such moments. As a recent high school graduate enjoying my last summer before adulthood, this movie truly reached me, thus earning a 10 star rating from me.

Couldn't quite put my finger on it . . .

[TRhett · 4/10 · 8 August 2019]

Luckily, someone else did when they said the film is like a (admittedly beautifully photographed and designed - although that really just adds to the artificiality) feature-length Beach Boys ode to youth, but it portrays an 'awareness' that real young people don't grasp until long after that time has passed." That pretty much sums it up. Reminded me of something I heard once: "Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth - oh, never mind . . . you won't appreciate the power and beauty of youth until yours is gone." And yes, these are late-20-somethings (one of whom was Miss Teen USA - you know, just like in your high school clique) playing 17 year-olds. But to be fair - they usually are. Nice try, but it's been done. Better.

If you don't get it just skip the review part instead of writing BS

[yeganemym · 10/10 · 4 December 2021]

The people who don't get what just happened in this movie can shut up and not write trash about it cause the movie and the whole meaning of the script was life changing and mind shaping.

CLASSIC GREAT STORY OF ONE LONG PARTY NIGHT FOR TEENS

[mattster-61157 · 8/10 · 22 October 2020]

I think this movie was great!! I think it was intellectual n deep n very cool on what normal teens experience. Im 32 right now, reminds me of my senior high school days minus the beach lol. I encourage to watch.