Hello Queers, cinephiles, casual movie watchers, and I guess straight people.
I spent my wonderful Sunday watching Hulu’s newest Lesbian extravaganza, Crush. I think I loved this movie so much, because it reminds me of my favorite movie of all, Booksmart. Two movies that effortlessly tell queer stories without restraint of societal rules.
Crush is a classic YA (Young Adult) romantic comedy, starring Auli'i Cravalho and Rowan Blanchard. If you’re good at context clues, the title will tell you what this movie is about.
Dramatically, it’s about the unflinching torment of falling for someone new. A normal person would say it’s about having a crush. Both are correct.
What makes this movie so good, as emphasized by Anthony Allen Ramos of GLAAD, is that it is not centered around coming out. While coming out stories are undoubtedly important, salient, and powerful, not every queer story needs that element to be taken seriously.
Crush is able to tell countless stories of queer love in a way that is light and warm, without tense and inevitably depressing borders. The characters are able to exist in this universe as they are, at their most authentic, without fear of themselves. It is not to be understated how important and exciting it is for queer people to be displayed as fearless and also for queer people to see themselves on screen as that.
Taylor Swift says this thing I love (I know… here we go) that being Fearless isn’t necessarily about the absence of fear, but about overcoming what you can and sitting with the rest.
While this movie serves as a powerful display of both vulnerability and strength, it’s also just a movie about two normal teenagers in high school with a crush. Which is another thing about queer media. It doesn’t always have to be saying or doing something to be profound. Queer people can be profound just by simply existing.
Cravalho and Blanchard deliver a performance that is gloriously effective in its simplicity. Written truly through the eyes of a teenager, alongside comedic powerhouses like Megan Mullally and Michelle Buteau. Whose comedic timing is absolutely delectable. Like seriously, You’re in for a fucking treat.
The teenage whims and aspirations mixed with feel-good comedy and genuine queer storytelling is why I love movies like this. Like Booksmart, Crush is a movie that authentically tells a queer story without the complexities of queerness being a detriment.
Between Crush, and Heartstopper, it’s a wonderfully wholesome time to be queer and participate in queer on screen love. Even if you’re not a part of the community, I know we can all agree on the disastrously personal and unpredictably tumultuous way your brain warps when you have a crush.
Watch Crush on Hulu if you know what’s good for you.
In loving agreement with Auli’i’s Cravalho family “You’re making us so proud.”
P.S. Enjoy this absolutely delightful edit of the movie.
Until Next time.
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