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At some point, we’ve all felt awkward and different and out of place. We’ve all yearned just to fit in. And in the coming-of-age dramedy Age of Summer, a teenage boy from the Midwest struggles to find his place at the beach in 1980s California.
Age of Summer follows Minnesota (Percy Hynes White) through his summer as a junior lifeguard at Hermosa Beach in 1986. A skinny young transplant from Chicago, Minnesota doesn’t quite fit in with the tanned surfer boys and pretty surfer girls. Fortunately, he has his good friend, Woods (Jake Ryan), by his side—even if it means that he’s constantly saving his friend from beach bullies. And as Minnesota struggles to fit in with the other lifeguards—and tries to get the attention of gorgeous blonde Brooke (Charlotte Sabina)—he gradually learns to let go and be himself.
This beach bound indie tells a charming tale about growing up and finding your way. The seaside summer setting is breezy and light—the ideal place for a fun-filled adventure through adolescence. It isn’t a wild, over-the-top ‘80s movie, complete with a lot of ‘80s hairstyles and ‘80s music and a Valley Girl script. It’s subtler—but it’s still noticeable for those who lived through it.
The characters are entertaining, too—from the California surfer boys and the gorgeous lifeguard girls to their tough Aussie boss and the mysterious man known as the Rock God. Each character here teaches Minnesota some kind of valuable lesson.
Minnesota, meanwhile, is an adorable lead—and a completely relatable one, too. He’s young and scrawny and entirely out of his league—a little kid from Chicago who stands out in a sea of shaggy, bleach-blonde California kids. Though he’s found an equally awkward friend in Woods, the two friends want different things. Woods is still enjoying being a kid, while Minnesota is determined to grow up. It’s a challenging time—that evolution from preteen to teen to adulthood—and the characters find themselves going through the changes at different times and different speeds, which puts a strain on their friendship. And their changing friendship adds to the awkwardness of this bittersweet summer of transitions.
Granted, Age of Summer isn’t exactly a memorable film. It’s light and entertaining though not especially powerful. But if you’re craving some sun and sea, it’s an enjoyable trip with a lovable young character back to the days before Baywatch.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
