Directed by Billy Porter
Screenplay by Ximena García Lecuona
Stars: Eva Reign, Abubakr Ali, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Courtnee Carter, Kelly Lamor Wilson, Grant Reynolds, Naveen Paddock, Miriam Laube, and Manu Narayan
When I heard about Billy Porter's directorial debut, I wanted to check it out. How many movies romantic comedies with a trans person? Not many. I wanted to love this movie, but it falls flat.
Kelsa (Reign) is starting her senior year of high school. Having come out as trans during the summer, everybody seems cool with her. She meets Khal (Ali) in a shared art class. They begin to hang out and feelings for each other bubble to the surface.
Two thirds of this movie was sweet and charming. I was invested in the romance between Khal and Kelsa. Then, the last act of the movie devolved into something that I didn't recognize.
I don't hate the movie, because it has a trans lead. I have seen reviews bashing the movie for that reason alone. Closed-mindedness. I think that this great to have this. I want to see more movies with trans leads in a romantic comedies. This has opened that door. I am grateful for that.
The biggest disappointment with the movie is that the characters become stereotypical archetypes; feminist best friend, homophobic guy, annoying brother, Regina George wannabe, clueless parent, etc. I wish the characters were fleshed out more to ground it.
For being Billy Porter's debut, I liked the movie for the most part. His "subtle" Easter eggs took me out of the movie.
Rating: 5/10
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