Alex Strangelove (2018) Poster

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7/10
Funny, sweet, light-hearted coming of age (and coming of sexuality) movie!
katiebugg-4997120 May 2019
I really loved this movie. It was so sweet! Just makes you feel happy. It's interesting to see the struggles that someone may face while being a young, gay, high schooler. I also loved the way they showed his "girlfriend"'s side.They showed how his decisions and his actions were effecting her, which is not usually a side that gets much attention in a "coming out" movie. It was a great light hearted movie that made me smile and also made me cry.
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7/10
Good movie Warning: Spoilers
I really loved this movie - a good old fashioned homage to John Hughes 80's teen flicks with a nice story and really charismatic actors playing believable characters. Also its laugh-out-loud funny at times... I've seen a ton of coming out movies - and they are usually just preaching to the choir - just made for a gay audience - who already have their own coming out stories - but this film concentrates on more and winds up having a much broader appeal. It reminds us of the girls and guys in our spheres when we were young who were there for us and supported us even when were weren't quite ready to say who we were yet ourselves... and even though they weren't prefect allies - and even though they didn't always react in the most positive of ways... when the chips were down, they were there for us. Is this a perfect movie? No - not at all - but its a nice sweet, heartfelt, often dramatic, often comedic movie that is a very pleasant diversion for gay and straight audiences... It's not gonna win any awards (but neither did Pretty in Pink or Sixteen Candles) but it just might win your heart... Special kudos to Daniel Zolghardi who is laugh out loud funny as Dell - and Daniel Doheny as Alex who is so adorable and charming that we fall in love with him as easily as everybody else in the movie...
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6/10
Sweet Story of Self-Discovery
Jared_Andrews22 July 2018
What we have here is a personal story that feels a bit too personal. By that I mean it feels like it was made for a very select audience, perhaps even an audience of one. It's okay for filmmakers to create stories that mean a lot to themselves, but ideally they will mean a lot to many others as well.

That's what made 'Ladybird' so wonderful. That's a personal story that feels personal to everyone. It's so full of empathy that all viewers can connect with it and be genuinely moved by it. 'Alex Strangelove' never reaches those heights.

Plot-wise, here's the rub: Alex Truelove is a high school senior with typical high school senior problems. He is stressed about getting into the right college. He's stressed about school. He's stressed about figuring out this sex thing.

His friends tell him sex is no big deal, but for some reason it hasn't happened for him. He loves his girlfriend, and she loves him too, but he has been putting off that part of their relationship. She doesn't know why and neither does he. Or maybe he does, but he isn't ready to admit it to himself yet.

One night at a party, Alex meets a cool guy. Everything becomes harder and harder to understand. It's unclear to viewers, as it is unclear to Alex. He's on a journey to self-discovery. He just hasn't reached his destination yet.

Daniel Doheny (the guy who plays Alex) is terrific. He successfully plays the part at various times as charming, funny, awkward, confused and downright mean. It's a challenging role to pull off, and he hits all the right notes.

The actors who play Alex's girlfriend Claire (Madeline Weinstein) and the cool guy Elliot (Antonio Marziale) are both fine. They aren't as nuanced and realized as Doheny's Alex, but they don't stand out in a negative way.

The film's resolution leaves a bit to be desired. Some loose ends remain untied. It probably would have been better to never introduce those storylines in the first place. The script would've been tighter, and nothing crucial would be lost.

Overall, this is a funny and fun movie that's part 'Superbad' (because of the parties and foul language) and part 'Love, Simon' (because of the sexual self-discovery). But it isn't as good as either.
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7/10
"I'm gonna sex you like a tornado on fire"
BrunoRatesTheMovies9 December 2021
A fresh take on the tried and tested teen romance full of likeable and relatable characters. I had a lot of fun watching this, there was a high level of awkwardness which I'm sure was intentional and only added to the charm. Mr Truelove has a bright future ahead of him and I would love a sequel.
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6/10
Alex Strangelove
JoBloTheMovieCritic7 October 2019
6/10 - I really wanted to like this movie, but as a lot of the Netflix ones do, this one fell flat
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6/10
Nice and light LGBT movie
tmpsvita6 July 2018
From the director of "The Skeleton Twins" comes one of the latest movies by Netflix and even before it came out has found its first major obstacle, the rather recent release of "Love, Simon" great teen movie on the LGBT theme, unfortunately the comparison it is almost spontaneous and "Alex Strangelove" does not stand that. Unfortunately, the film is not very involved in developing the LGBT theme that quickly falls into the background as well as all other more interesting or creative ideas (such as the extravagant editing and the curious direction appreciable in the first part but that are lost with advancing of time) that gave him a more bizarre personality. At the beginning also seems to be able to clear several aspects usually circumvented in films of this type but in the middle part loses some 'of his courage and gets lost in the easiest and fast route becoming a trivial teen movie without any particular peculiarity due of a limping and somewhat superficial script, especially when touching the key of homosexuality. In the last few minutes it resumed but now it is too late to make a great film and in conclusion it is remembered as a banal but light and carefree movie that would have served greater maturity and depth.
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5/10
Really mediocre
emmabatterman12 June 2018
Its got a nice premise and an honest attempt but its been done before. Everything about it was extremely predictable and the script was really boring. The direction itself was well done and it had a kind atmosphere but the whole thing was really unremarkable.
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8/10
Authentic coming out rom-com with broad appeal
JetFlower11 June 2018
This is an accurate depiction of coming out. Other reviewers seem offended by the focus on his relationship with a girl, but I don't understand that. It's very realistic and an aspect of the coming-out experience. I think this movie did a very good job of highlighting the roles of those people and other friends in the lives of lgbt.

I also really appreciated the later-in-life realization of his sexuality. Yes, some people 'always know,' but some people don't, and others are in huge denial and that can really suck. These people need representation, too, and this is a great movie to do it with.

Even the poor reviews give the acting good marks. I think I can speak from experience that the story is very authentic. No aspect of it rings untrue, and it manages to be genuinely hilarious at just the right times. 8/10
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7/10
better than love, simon
katteycat9 June 2018
A really good movie. Accurately depicts being gay at high school in 2018. Resolves at the end. good camera work. The dynamics aren't forced. The character makes mistakes but Isn't unlikable. shows both sides of the story.
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3/10
Had a promising start
larrii10 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
My question is; is this a coming out story or about a person finding himself? I'm not sure. Maybe they couldn't settle on one and got stuck in the middle of the two, but not really pulling either plots off. It had a promising trailer and I did laugh at many of the jokes but as the last (and very predictable) scene played out before me I felt like I hadn't really learned anything about anyone and Alex was just... kinda gay? Who knows.

If you're looking for something cute or heart warming this is not it. Period. It's about "we're gonna have straight sex, oh yeah, but wait I can't get it up. But I'm not gay! I will try with some random chick! Boooh Yeah! But I can't get it up this time either. Gosh darn it. Omg I'm having a (wanna seem poetic much?) flashback; okay I'm gay. And now I'm kissing the gay kid I met recently (because let's face it, it seems like two days passed since they first met) of which I'm not even sure I have any feelings for but he's there so he'll do!"
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9/10
Great film that actually helped me realize I'm gay
sumosausage15 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Yes this film is cheesy, yes it is very American and no it's probably not the best LGBT coming of age film. However this is a heartfelt, funny and (somewhat) realistic depiction of what it's like trying to figure out your sexuality what you have lurning disabilities. Oh and this is definitely better then love Simon so before you look at the other reviews just think this film has been made with a specific audience in mind. So if you have any lurning disabilities and are questioning your sexuality, please I urge you to watch this film it helped me, it might help you too
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7/10
Cute film
meikenikkels22 January 2020
This teen film is unlike others in so many ways. No over the top gay characters, just some sweet little moments. No mean girls/guys. No "hot" blond girlfriend. But instead quirky and cute interests that were really woven into the film, not just in a moment where it seemed like you'd need the information, like many others.. Alex is a different main character in many ways. He is adorably geeky and nerdy, he's super emotional and doesn't care for it! And he doesn't just follow the crowd. He is just genuine and sweet. Something else I liked for a change was the fact that the cast wasn't made up from just the best looking people. The main characters aren't ugly, don't get me wrong, but they also aren't the best looking people in my opinion. They were really cast for their skills and not their looks, which made the film a lot more believable! The plot does remain predictable and very American but still a highly enjoyable film!
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1/10
What even is Elliot???
arty_angel25 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The film seems hopeful during the first 10 minutes. After that the characters remain stagnant and one dimensional. Alex seems constantly alert and high strung (understandibly due to his dilemma), Clair is constantly disappointed, although it's hard to sympathise with her as her character doesn't evolve enough.

Elliot character is unrealistic. The writers portray him initially as shy and mysterious, then he becomes extremely forward when trying to pursue alex, such behaviour is slightly intolerable.
  • he invites alex to a concert because "Gretchen can't make it"
  • he mysteriously appears at the same place as alex
  • he offers to give alex a ride home
  • he forcefully states "you definitely need to come to my house" when Alex doesn't know the song playing on the radio
  • he summons alex to his bed knowing full well alex is in a relationship
  • and what erked me the most wad his sing along yo B-52s Dance this mess around. It was cringeworthy and just plain bizzare??


The movie finishes with, of course, the prom. Where Clair "passes the torch" (meaning passing Elliot to Alex) to show her support of their relationship, and is seemingly unaffected by what would likely be a devastating and heart breaking experience for anyone in the real world.

Alex has one more hesitation prior to accepting his true self. Which means a quick run to the bathroom and hyperventilating. All hope seems lost when Elliot tries to leave right before.... Alex runs back and they embrace in a passionate kiss with everyone at prom speculating and being supportive. (I wish it were like that in the real world, unfortunately it's not)

The only saving grace was the character of Dell who provided the main comic relief. However, some of his comments to Alex were slightly offensive and homophobic.

The kids are great actors I'm sure, the script may have let them down.
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7/10
fun and poignant
SnoopyStyle14 July 2018
Hormones are running wild at Buchanan High. Animal obsessed student body president Alex Truelove is an awkward teen looking for true love. He falls hard for Claire and they become video partner best friends. Eventually, they get into a relationship. Claire lets slip that Alex has been preventing her from devirginizing him. They decide on a hotel rendezvous to do it for the first time. Then he meets openly gay Elliott.

The crass friend Dell does something crass to prove a point. My move would be less crass but still somewhat crass. Dell is more than a simplistic idiot sidekick. This is a good sexual confusion movie. I do have a presumed idea of where this movie is going but this takes a different road. I expected the hotel to be the climax. It might be better to structure that way. It may not be as sweet but it would be more dramatic. After the big emotional explosion, it can't really get that big again. Emotional tension kinda drift slowly down. Even his big reveal can't break that level again. Honestly, she has a bigger emotional arc than he does. Maybe, the coming out story is thankfully no longer shocking and this should be her story instead. Of course, there is a comparison to the other recent teen coming out movie, Love, Simon. I think they are both very compelling and slightly flawed in different ways. They could be a solid double bill.
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7/10
Nice movie
kbibuskauna2 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is Nice. This movie is Nice. This movie
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7/10
A better white bread
ekeby20 August 2018
I say that because it's unavoidable: this is white bread bland. But it's done fairly well for what it is.

It's honest and upfront about what we should expect: the main character talks to us, comments on his life, where it's going etc.

People are right to say this is like modern John Hughes movie. Which, I hasten to add, were pretty much considered s**t when they came out except for their target audience: pre-teens and young teens. This film is for that same demographic.

So I get why some people are really unhappy with it. No, of course it's not realistic. It's entertainment. And some of the entertainment is good, if stereotypical.

If you been observing gay cinema as it evolved post-Stonewall--as I have and yes, I'm that old-you're more likely to give this a pass because IT IS equivalent to a John Hughes movie. Which, I will say again, adults considered s**t at the time. I think these serve the same purpose for the gay community as Hughes' movies did for straight kids in the '80s. Why shouldn't our kids get white bread formulaic rom coms too?

We should. This is one, and for what it is, it's fine.
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1/10
Insulting And Unrealistic
clintstevens26 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
A seemingly straight high schooler who apparently has never considered he might be gay (never mind the memory of getting a 'boner' in the locker room at summer camp as a young boy...hasn't every guy had something similar happen at some time in their childhood?) meets a gay guy at a party and after sharing a joint, is confused by the feelings he is having. So far, so good.

He is a virgin and makes plans to have sex for the first time with his girl friend, planning an evening at a hotel. Still, so far, so good.

He becomes buddies with the gay boy he met and as they sit and talk, he suddenly grabs the gay and plants a heavy-duty kiss on him, immediately regretting it. Not quite so good.

This movie then turns into a fairy tale (no pun intended) when he decides he is definitely gay and confesses to his gf and friends. They all rally around him, supporting him 100%. His GF sets him up with the gay dude at the prom ("I'm passing the torch"...huh?) and the two boys stand in the middle of the dance floor in a heated embrace, kissing passionately while all the students either ignore them, or give them the 'thumb's up'. Utter Hollywood baloney.

Sorry, I don't buy it. This is not the real world, as much as most people wish it was. The movie is filled with stereotypes, including the main character's nerdy friends, the school jock, the dying mother, the whiny, weeping girl friend, and on and on. There is even the stereotypical quote 'Maybe it's just a phase you're going through' uttered, not by the parents but by the spurned girlfriend.

For those viewers who don't want to see a true story about coming out but would prefer a fairy tale, this is your movie. Otherwise do not be insulted by this Hollywood hogwash, especially if you've lived the painful result of coming to terms with being gay.
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10/10
thought it was gonna suck, ended up crying
jella-168429 June 2018
I just wanted to watch another stupid movie to keep myself distracted. I had no idea that this movie would touch me so deeply. It was funny and sad. The name of the movie is stupid which lead to me thinking it would be another useless Netflix movie. But my assumption turned out to be wrong. I'm definitely gonna watch it again. In my opinion it was better than Love, Simon.
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7/10
The script is a mess but engaging, truthful for some people's experiences
CubsandCulture22 October 2019
It is inevitable that this film will be compared to Love, Simon. Both are teen romance comedies, with a bit of a John Hughes in the background (in this case explicitly so). Both are centered on a coming out narrative and both involve a white gay teen in suburbia. While Simon is the superior work, Strangelove has enough distinctions to be worthwhile. Alex's coming out is much more recognizing his identity (Simon struggles with how, Alex struggles with what) and the film is much more willing to push the envelope. There is a frankness to the depiction of sexuality that is missing in Simon and the film speaks to how complicated coming out can be. I appreciate that Elliot had a bad coming out (abet it is not shown) as Simon is a little too saccharine on that point.

But apart from that, Strangelove is a bit of mess. Much of the humor feels alien to the plot and character. While the humor is funny it is shallow and goofball. It creates a lot of tonal clashes that undermine the film. I.e. the frog gag is juxtaposed with the lovers meeting and it really does not work. The subplot do not really try into the main plot all that well. But the main issue is Alex and Elliot do not get enough scenes together and the lover story between feels more like the idea of love, not love itself.

That is a real shame because the two actors are wonderful and they have sizzling chemistry. Doheny is a great choice for this role and he makes Alex as real as Simon was. Marziale is not in the film a lot but he is strong enough that Elliot feels as realized as Alex.

Overall, this is a good but not great film that GB men can relate too. It is not a universal representation of the queer experience.
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1/10
So homophobic
acuarius-9562813 June 2018
If its a gay movie, why is it so homophobic? At one point when the main character is telling his friend he might be bisexual, his friend starts making really homophobic comments and the movie never acknowledges it. at the end, the friend just accepts it, he is not shown that what he said was wrong or anything. they also show really awkward "sex scenes" (if you can even call it that). just overall terrible and i do not recommend.
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9/10
Queer cinema meets John Hughes
lsmith-561-5405989 June 2018
I admit, this movie won me over. The first 10 minutes feel a bit cheesy, but, the tone quickly evens out and it just gets better and better, all the way to the end. Amazing and realistic performances; Alex is incredibly charming and Dell is hilarious! The music is great, hope they release a soundtrack! My one criticism is that Alex and Elliott don't get to spend more time together. Sequel? Anyway, ignore the hater reviews and treat yourself to a fun movie!
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7/10
worth a watch
jessbir-2361825 July 2019
I love teen movies and this is the best one I have seen in a long time yes it was cheesy like most teen movies but it also had things most teen movies don't have lots of heart and genuine emotion I found many scenes to be very heartfelt and sincere and the acting was great for a teen Netflix movie. the movie is also funny and quirky with a bunch of likeable memorable characters. the movie shows a fairly realistic depiction of what its like coming to terms with your sexuality and the romance between Alex and Elliot Is very endearing I also really liked the girlfriend in the movie even though she was there for a bit to long at times. Love Simon Is much better but this movie is still delightful and worth a watch.
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4/10
Just a generic teen movie; with a token of gayness
bob_fnord19 August 2018
This movie really tries to be progressive. But adding a gay lead-character doesn't change the fact, that the writing is lazy and the acting is unconvincing.. Most of the characters are just teen-movie cliches talking in phrases. At no point in the movie so I feel like investing any emotions in any of characters. Lest of all the main character, Alex, who is really not that likable. To quote the movie: " You have your head up your ass so much; it's depressing"..

Adding the gay layer to the story doesn't add much depth; it merely makes it seem like a 90's after-school special about 'It's okay to be gay'.. And the movie's view on queer people seems really stereotypical... It's like they are trying to be progressive, but really they are just reinforcing the gay stereotypes.
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7/10
Perfectly fun teenage fluff
RubyMouse25 December 2018
I don't get the bad reviews saying this has "nothing new to add"! It's a feel good comedy flick aimed at young adults that embraces diversity: it's not meant to win a palm d'or. I thought it was good fun, easy watching and the snogging was a lot more convincing than #malec
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7/10
A Bad Ending Ruins "Alex Strangelove"
edicionccq1 December 2019
I wasn't hoping a lot from "Alex Strangelove" for two reasons. It was a Netflix Original, and I watch "Love, Simon" and I didn't like it. But I still give it a try because this movie looks like a little bit more comedy than drama.

That was the case for the first half of the movie. The jokes are hilarious, they aren't mature but it's humorous. It's your typical teen comedy with sex and some foolish jokes. It's entertaining and excellent. When we finally get to the LGBT part of the movie, I feel relief. The chemistry between Alex (Daniel Doheny) and Elliot (Antonio Marziale) is perfect, and you want them together since their first scene.

The problem comes in the third act of the movie where everything becomes very dramatic, and the end feels rushed. Like they didn't work that much in that part of the movie so they merely want it to end. It's sad because I was so excited for a satisfactory ending. It's just a cliché ending like any other.
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