Summer of 69

A geeky, inexperienced, and not-so-confident girl hires a stripper to coach her on how to land a guy by performing "69".

The sort of film that rarely works on paper, but delivers in execution thanks to its sincere tone and the charm of its leading actresses! With a great budding friendship between a shy (but quite determined) teen and her bold, quick-witted and sassy mentor. Their dynamic is sweet, funny, and easily the highlight of the movie.

That said.. the film doesn't leave much of a lasting impression. No standout moments that demand a rewatch, subplots that come off as checklist items to fill in space (imagination "problems", the mascot character, highschool reunion, etc) rather than meaningful additions, a third act that stumbles and drags its feet.. With one side of its conclusion that doesn't satisfy, and instead feels rushed and undercooked.

Still, despite its flaws, the movie remains enjoyable and lightheartedly-endearing in a way that makes it easy to forgive some of its crappier moments! And the leads are very good on their roles.

Chloe Fineman delivers a standout performance as Santa Monica, an exotic dancer who helps high school senior Abby Flores, played by Sam Morelos, navigate her romantic endeavors. Fineman's portrayal is particularly notable for an impressive and athletic striptease scene set to Peaches' 2006 hit "Boys Wanna Be Her," showcasing her remarkable strength, flexibility, and control. Her performance has been highlighted as a pivotal moment in the film, leaving a lasting impression on both the audience and Abby's character.

Bonus for 'Grey's Anatomy' Fans:

Adding to the film's appeal, Jerrika Hinton, known for her role as Dr. Stephanie Edwards on "Grey's Anatomy," appears in "Summer of 69." Her presence adds a familiar face for fans of the long-running medical drama.

Overall Assessment:

While "Summer of 69" offers a fresh take on the teen sex comedy genre with strong performances, especially from Fineman, its reception suggests it's more of a solid entry than a perfect film. Given the mixed reviews, a 10 out of 10 rating might be generous. However, if you're a fan of quirky coming-of-age stories with a blend of humor and heart, it could be a worthwhile watch.

I was really skeptical coming into this, being the ALPHA I think I am. You know, the red meat, growling, snarling Wolf. I'd chase down overly-showy, and timid women like this. I'm an ANIMAL! They WILL succumb to my will!

But then, my favorite funny person, from that limp-waisted, liberal SNL decides to star in it, and coax me into believing that I (her number 1fan [thanks, Annie Wilkes]) was going to see my dream dance around nekkid.

I sat through one hour and forty minutes, and what the .... Blank ... where were the boobies (No this isn't a size joke. Her character was a stripper, and I've been to enough bachelor parties to know I should see boobies!)

What, you think you can get away with not showing boobies because you make us laugh from the belly in a super identifiable way?

Lots of snark. Loved the movie, loved the cameos, Fibeman continues to be my fave SNL cast member, and she showed she is ready for next, I think.

8/10 - great step into the next level for Fineman. I was skeptical at first, but she brought everything together at the end and I was sold and invested in her arc. The high school girl gave me shades of the 8th grade in-kids, Mitch Kramer and Sabrina Davis, from Dazed and Confused. Solid effort, and it made me laugh out loud, literally.

We stumbled onto Summer of 69 while scrolling through Hulu, honestly just trying to escape another night of endless Netflix picks. None of us knew what we were in for - and yet, this offbeat comedy about teen awkwardness, friendship, and blooming confidence actually surprised us in the best way.

Abby, the main character, really stood out. Winny found her quirky charm and humor totally lovable, while Willow vibed more with the film's look and was (impatiently) waiting for "the good part" - which we'll just say... yeah, he knew when it hit. Mimikyu, meanwhile, was all in for the weird energy and couldn't stop giggling at the immature jokes, which somehow hit just right. Amy and Tails appreciated the character chemistry - the way they bounced off each other felt so natural, almost like real-life friendships, and they both related hard to the awkward, nervous moments that came up. It was that kind of "been there" energy.

Sweet thought the movie had something real to say underneath the laughs. He pointed out how it could be helpful for teens (maybe 14+) figuring things out - though, to him, the bold and loud use of the word sex felt a bit unreal and forced at times. Still, he got that it was a comedy, and it made the message easier to digest - even if it was kinda weird.

In the end, this movie isn't trying to be perfect or deep - but it's honest in a funny, slightly chaotic way. We had a good time.

Rating: 8/10 - Honest laughs and awkward charm!

One of those films that I suspect suffers from not having an obvious niche. It's a classic coming of age / sex comedy, but firmly aimed at girls not boys and with an adult sensibility (adult in the sense of grown up, not a euphemism for porn).

It's a much better film than its rating suggests. The leads are superb and superbly well cast. Some of the side characters are a bit too two dimensional, but no more than lots of films with far bigger budgets. The writing is sharp, with the right dose of raunch without going over the top. It is also well acted.

It also avoids the modern tick box tropes (one person of colour: tick; one person who is non-binary: tick; etc).