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.
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.