A Lifetime of Happiness: Movies, TV, and Video Games

Love, Simon (2018)

June 22, 2022 Steve Bennet-Martin, Stephen Martin-Bennet Season 1 Episode 125
A Lifetime of Happiness: Movies, TV, and Video Games
Love, Simon (2018)
Show Notes Transcript

The Steves discuss 2018's Love, Simon, along with what's making them happy in pop culture today!

What's making us happy?

The Jurassic Park and World movies (HBO Max)
Chip N Dale: Rescue Rangers (Disney Plus)

Follow us to get new episodes weekly, plus engage with us on social media @happylifepod or e-mail us directly at happylifepod@gmail.com

Ending- Any music or audio clips were borrowed from the original source material.

Support the show
Steve:

Hello, returning happys and new listeners. This is Steve Bennet-Martin, and

Stephen:

this is Stephen Martin-Bennet. And welcome to

Steve:

a lifetime of happy the podcast where we take you on our journey through some of the movies, television shows, and other bits of pop culture that are helping to keep us happy while hopefully bring a smile to your face along the way. And

Stephen:

today we're continuing pride month with a celebration of young love and coming. And love

Steve:

Simon, ah, to be young, dumb, and full of inspiration. Before we get into that in my love though, what's making you happy. Dinosaurs are making me happy. Oh, what are you a five-year old.

Stephen:

Yes, I am. So yeah, the, the final movie of the drastic world trilogy is coming up. And actually has come out, but we haven't gotten to see it yet, but in preparation, I have been rewatching the five previous Jurassic movies. And I love them even the one that isn't the best Jurassic park. I still

Steve:

enjoy. I love some of them, some of them. I said, you watch on your own day

Stephen:

drastic world and the original drastic park, both still hold up extraordinarily. Well, they are fantastic.

Steve:

Yes, they certainly are.

Stephen:

Now what's been making you happy. My darling

Steve:

Chippendale

Stephen:

rescue ranges

Steve:

chip. Is on Disney plus and not the original cartoon that mid basically defined my childhood. But it was one of my favorite Disney shows and it got a modern day reboot movie remake. It kind of like I'm on the third wall, fourth wall behind the scenes of the show in real life. But with cartoons merged with humans and it was just awesome. And.

Stephen:

I re and, you know, there was enough of an overlap where I was watching duck tails, dark wing, duck, chip, and Dale and tailspin in the afternoons that you were as well.

Steve:

And there were just so many references to just everything like Disney and cartoon history. Yeah. That was just. It was fun. That was one of those movies, you know, when we watch it again, we're going to notice jokes and things that we didn't notice the first time. Cause they were just littered everywhere. There were about a

Stephen:

kabillion Easter eggs in that movie.

Steve:

I love when they were talking about like that the one light worth guy or where they were, they were talking about like that time in the early outs where everyone looked kind of real, but had the creepy dead eyes and I'm like, yes, that's what's happening because I'm replaying fire emblem awakening now. I mean they're little 3d things above it. I'm like they have the same eyes.

Stephen:

And there were some other movies like that, that, and like the, the Shrek, some of the Shrek people too, they were poking fun of. And original movie Sonic before ugly, Sonic ugly Sonic before all the fans revolted. And they went back in and redid it and everyone decided,

Steve:

yes.

Stephen:

No about this movie.

Steve:

Yes. I am a DB, summarizes it as Simon. Spear keeps a huge secret from his family, his friends and all of his classmates he's gay. Oh my, when that secret is threatened, Simon must face everyone that comes to terms with his.

Stephen:

Again, I am DB did not do a bad job at all. Now, why do you enjoy love Simon? It's kind of like

Steve:

how I wish my coming out would have been or could have been. Yeah. It's just, it's, it's really sweet and heartwarming. And like I said, it just fills you with this inspiration that like, it gets better. It's going to be okay. And that like, From the time that I was in high school to the time that these kids are in high school, that like, things are better than they were continue to hopefully get that way. Yes. What about you, Jennifer

Stephen:

Garner?

Steve:

Jennifer Greiner. I forgot to ask cause I knew the answer, but I realize that our listeners did. I

Stephen:

love me some Jennifer Garner and she is really good in this movie. And we'll get into more of why I really enjoy her. Later

Steve:

on. Yes. And love Simon. Like all of our movies is going to be fully spoiled, so you should go watch it. It's on Amazon free with ads on Showtime or Showtime or something, but it's out there and watch it. And it's fun. Yes. And it was distributed by 20th century Fox back in March 16th, 2018. Right before

Stephen:

the pandemic and where maybe there was way

Steve:

before. It was a couple of years before the pandemic back two years. Yeah, I know it's hard, but it had an estimated budget between 10 and 17 million and a box office of 66.3 million, which is like awesome. Because it's more than triple. Yeah.

Stephen:

And they liked it well enough that there's now a SQL TV. Love

Steve:

Victor. Yes. And the, this was directed by Greg Berlanti, who we covered in the previous episode that broken hearts club and is based on Simon versus the homo sapiens agenda by Becky Albert Tali

Stephen:

and the film stars. Nick Robinson assignment, Josh Dumell as his dad, Jack Jennifer Greiner is his mom. Emily Katherine Langford is Aliyah. His current girlfriend. Or best friend Keenan Lawnsdale as Bram and assignments kind of love interest.

Steve:

Yes. And Nick Robinson is known for his role as Zach and Jurassic world trilogy. Well, Keenan is from CWS. The flash has kid flash and Catherine started in 13 reasons why as Hannah Baker

Stephen:

and isn't Keenan also one of the twins in the new screen movie. No. Oh, is that not him now? Okay. I got him

Steve:

another, no, that's like a jock from love Victor.

Stephen:

Oh yes. So I was confusing. My love movies.

Steve:

Yep. There we

Stephen:

go. Josh g-mail is best known for other by others for his role as William Linux and the transformers, movies, not how I know him. I know. He was also in the show Vegas. Yes. I think that's how I know him. Yep. And Jennifer Garner is one of my favorite people known for her starring role as Sydney Bristow and alias 13, going on 30 as Jenna, her pretend cooking show on Instagram and as Electra and the not as bad as people say dare devil movie is, and she's also now known for. What's in your wallet.

Steve:

Yes, she is. And even now I forget what the name of the credit card. I just know it's a credit card and I remember, oh my God, I don't know what it is. That's not effective marketing

Stephen:

people. I know Jennifer Garner. And I know how to say what's in your wallet, but that's about

Steve:

it. Yes. Well, the listeners are probably screaming at us now. So let's move on to a discussion of the movie. Yes. It starts with Simon spear telling us about his. He's honestly lived a charmed life and he recognizes it. He's a senior in high school. His parents were former quarterback, Jack and valedictorian, Emily high school sweethearts, his younger sister, Nora is an aspiring chef and follows that whole like ten-year-old with like the mind and personality of a 30 year old.

Stephen:

Yeah. Except for the emotional maturity part, she's definitely still 10 there. And

Steve:

Simon spends time drinking too much iced coffee with his three best friends. Leah, Nick, and.

Stephen:

And he considers himself fairly normal, other than his one huge ass secret. He's

Steve:

gay. Don't say Gabe we're in Florida. Oh yeah.

Stephen:

Don't know Mr. DeSantis, you can't stop me. Gay, gay, gay, gay gay. Yes. And now he gets off to school. Simon sees a man that he finds attractive working with a leaf blower in his neighbor's yard. And the whole scene is. Awkward as hell. I like your boots and the guy has the leaf blower going the whole time and can't hear. And so it's just trying to like make small talk and then finally says, I like your boots. And you know, the guy didn't hear a word of

Steve:

it, which was probably for the best. Cause I remember my first couple of attempts at flirting and it was not smooth at

Stephen:

all. Growing up in the closet is not fun. Mine was in the Bible belt and in a small town where everybody knew me. So that wasn't great. What about you?

Steve:

It wasn't any better being in like a bigger town or a group of towns on long island. But I don't know. I know that I had the experience of coming out earlier than you started that experience of coming out in high school. Obviously it wasn't as funding your area to, and you decided to wait until how has to live that the siren college fantasy. Yes.

Stephen:

Fun fact while Nick Robinson, our assignment identifies as straight and real life. His younger brother. Just as the film went into production,

Steve:

because what better way to find yourself a way to come at other than being like, Hey mom and dad, you know how like your oldest is getting paid a whole bunch of money to act gay? Well, I'm actually really gay, so that was do it for free and I'll do it for free.

Stephen:

Yeah. Salmon always picks his friends up for school and they have one openly gay student at school, Ethan. And he's picked on by the school's resonant jackasses, Aaron and split. Did you have anyone out in school?

Steve:

Me? Oh yes. I was the first one out. That's yes. What was it like for you though? Did you have someone who was out and like no one was out?

Stephen:

No one was out and after we graduated the next year there was a bisexual table, but whether they were actually bisexual or whether they were just doing it As like there had been a golf table the year before. I don't know. But no, there was nobody out when I was in high school.

Steve:

See, I was one of the first ones out, so I don't know really what it was like, like outside, looking

Stephen:

in, look at you, you trailblazer. I know. Well,

Steve:

by the time there must have been something in the water that Catholic school, because in a graduating class at 90, I swear like a dozen of us were out and proud by graduation. Like there was something in the water there

Stephen:

in my graduating class of 200. I know of many, many that are gay. Some of them aren't out, but you'll

Steve:

have that. Yeah. And there are principal Mr. Worth. Tony Hale from arrest development always tries too hard to be relatable and has a thing with cell phones.

Stephen:

Simon and Abby are performing and the school's production of cabaret as is Martin, the resident theater douche. Every school has one. And he's an awkward guy that has a crush on

Steve:

appy. Yes. At home Simon is watching TV with his family when Jack makes an unfortunate joke about a guy on the bachelor looking fruity. Yeah.

Stephen:

It's amazing how small comments like that can impact. Did you have any experiences like that? People just saying something, not meaning to be

Steve:

hurtful well, and it's, it's one thing when it's someone from the outside, which like will happen, but like, I think it is true. It strikes us like, especially hard when it's our parents like. I used to watch TV with my mom a lot. And if there was like anything, same-sex like, she changed the channel and make like a comment like, oh, that's disgusting or gross or horrible. And so that just set me like confirmed, like all my worst suspicions that it was unacceptable to have the feelings that I was feeling right.

Stephen:

And I definitely, there were all those situations and and it's difficult because. You know, you're looking to certain people for acceptance and validation and wanting them to be proud of you. And then in moments where an off the cuff comment, that probably means very little, like Simon's dad making that comment about the bachelor. He's trying to be funny and it's hurtful because, you know, Simon of course internalizes it.

Steve:

Now later Simon gets a FaceTime call from Leah who tells them about our new post on Creek secrets, like a PG 13 gossip girl, where people can post anonymous things about other people. And sometimes themselves we're in an anonymous student, going by blue has come out as gay. So I'm in decides to start emailing blue under the alias there's shocks as in chucks, Shaka D, which is French for assignment says, yeah.

Stephen:

It's interesting. Whenever Leah first called him, his terror was palpable because he was immediately sure that someone was writing about him.

Steve:

Yes. And it just makes me like, and I remember being back there, especially back in high school, but like why it happens unfortunately, even into adulthood. Where, why do people care so much about who other people screw or like who they desire or who's straight and who's gay, like,

Stephen:

because I think people. Like to have people figure it out. And because if you can put someone into little boxes and this is the little box you fit into, then in their mind, that makes it all make sense for them. Doesn't make it right earning thing. And, you know, nobody likes to be pigeonholed or put into boxes and it's nobody's business who anybody. Wants to have sex with what, in the eyes of any of the genders,

Steve:

unless you were one of the people just seeing if you're interested in each other, like, yeah.

Stephen:

So anxiously awaiting a reply from blue. He gets a cell phone taken away until after play practice and it play practice. And we meet his drama teacher, miss Albright, who could really just give two fucks about the job and the show cabaret is a complete train wreck. And a lot of that is because the school forced her to cast anyone who auditioned.

Steve:

Yes. And that's Natasha Rothwell does a great job on this. Yes. And he gets his phone back later to find blue has responded to Simon and the two continue to send each other messages and start forming their connection. Now

Stephen:

we didn't have a kind of Creek secrets type of thing for our school.

Steve:

We didn't either, but like the entire idea of. The closest thing we had to that was like each other's MySpace walls. Like it was giving me like my space fives, but then when he and Simon started or like when he and blue started emailing each other, it was giving me like AOL instant message fives.

Stephen:

What's what was your screen

Steve:

name? My, my one that like still actually technically exists today with sweet escape. 8 1 9. After Gwen Stefani song, but I also had a tabula rasa after it was a Buffy episode. And your quad Hassan after angels season five. So I had a couple Buffy and angel inspired screenings. What about you?

Stephen:

So mine was originally. T V boy, Steve thinking at highlighted my interest in television until I was told by a skeezy older dude that the TV and my screen name meant that I was a transvestite.

Steve:

Oh no, that's funny. The thing, I mean, no, it's sad. I wonder how many, like M for M chat rooms you went into it. That's a screen Haven people

Stephen:

thought, oh, it, the first night I was told. Oh, okay. But. I had had it for a bit was like friendly use. Yeah. And none of my friends done anything of it because

Steve:

they didn't speak the lingo. No.

Stephen:

And so yeah, the first chat room someone told me and I was like,

Steve:

are you in the wrong chat room?

Stephen:

And yeah, then I changed it. Not that there is anything wrong with being a transvestite. That was just not what I was. And as a. The 18, 19 year old child, like discovering his sexuality. I was very much thrown off my game.

Steve:

Yes, blue and Simon. Talk about their first celebrity crushes, Simon liking Daniel Radcliffe in the sixth Harry Potter movie. Which is better than liking him in the first one and blue liking John Snow, which is very of the time and causes assignment to look at any game of Thrones fans at school as potential blues.

Stephen:

Yeah. And none of them were anybody that Simon would want to have the blue and blue Sose also says that he enjoys the Halloween Oreos that are orange and black, which means that blue has horrible.

Steve:

Yeah. I like Oreos sometimes with the things like I like cookies and cream ice cream, you don't have to hate on it that bad, just cause it's not your thing. I know you liked

Stephen:

the failing. I do know Simon is at the school library when he accidentally leaves his emails open because the assistant principal comes up and so he just acts out real quick. And then theater, Jewish Martin sits down and turns out. You know, he finds that his emails were there. And so he approaches Simon and reveals that he took screenshots of all the emails and he's going to blackmail Simon to set him up with Abby and Simon of course is upset because he doesn't want everyone to know that he's gay. And so he reluctantly goes along with it. Yeah.

Steve:

Hi, have you ever been blackmailed? No. Have you like I've, I've had like high school blackmail where like, it was never to this extent, but I definitely had people being like, well, like you better keep my secret or I won't keep yours type of thing. Yeah. It was unfortunate. But like most people use it to hold things over and I would just go along with it. Like I never, it never was like snowballed out of more than like a one-time favor or like a empty threat. Yeah.

Stephen:

No, it was. I don't know why I Yeah. At lunch Simon's friend Bram invites everyone to his house for a Halloween party and a comment about the Oreo. And so Simon starts to suspect that Bram could be blue based on the interactions and the hands dropped. And I

Steve:

say, trust your instincts kid.

Stephen:

Yeah. That plot point is goes for a little bit further. And cause they meet up at Simon's house for pre Halloween and he and Leah are dressed as John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Nick

Steve:

is Christiana Ronaldo, which is really just Nick and high school soccer uniform with her and not Ronaldo taped on his back.

Stephen:

Okay. Yeah. And Abby is wonder woman and because of the black male, Simon also invited Martin to the chagrin of his. Who arrives, dressed as a Freudian slip

Steve:

and okay. He might be the absolute worst, but best costume.

Stephen:

Oh yeah. Like if this was in college, it would have gone over huge. Yes. Like it was the wrong demographic for the costume.

Steve:

Yep. And on the way to the party, Martin ends up trying way too hard to talk to Abby when she's clearly more interested in Nick at the party. And Nick tells Simon, he's thinking of asking Abby Al, but Simon comes up with a lie that. Dating an older college guy named Jonathan to try and like keep her free for Martin. And Simon's then invited by brim to play beer pong of some sort of fancy name that I didn't know and get some Martin and Abby to play against them. After some karaoke chemistry, Simon goes upstairs to find brand making out with the girl to Simon's disappointment to make things even worse. Martin blows chunks and Simon after getting to drunk.

Stephen:

Oh, that is like the worst into a party.

Steve:

Yes. Do you have any experiences like that?

Stephen:

Not to that extent. I've never been thrown up on but I had been working as a nightclub promoter for a bit in the two thousands. And on the last night where the club was closing down w all the promoters were there and they guided us around the drinks. And one of the guys, after everyone had finished about half the drink, he goes, you have roughly an hour and everyone's like an hour for what? And he goes till your rupees kick in. Oh yeah. I remember that story. And so one of the guys punched him. Everyone dumped their drinks on him and everybody rushed home. And I passed out in the bathroom, sitting on the toilet and it was not a great

Steve:

night. No, that doesn't sound like a good night. Now,

Stephen:

what about you? Have you ever had an awful party experience?

Steve:

Well, luckily by that point in a party I'm normally blacked out. That's not really, luckily I know. Well now I get to live through it sober, so I'll have to learn, but. Like, I know that there were just parties where like, everything seemed like it was going wrong. Like my first handful of birthday parties, even without alcohol involved, but just like, like I remember there was one year where we were like going into the city for my birthday and just like so many people, like didn't come that were supposed to come to meet people that weren't invited, showed up when we were there, everyone wanted to do their own separate thing. And so it's like, why are we even here for my birthday? If we all just like, come into the city at different times and explore this. Independently separately. Like it was just one of those birthdays where nothing went right

Stephen:

now. Were you known for making out with girls? Yes,

Steve:

but I did it, my handful of like making out with girls when I was trying it out or like pretending to be straight. Yeah. And then there was like a phase early on, in college where I would make out with girls, like at the club. Being out as gay and just like us making out just for fun. Yep.

Stephen:

I totally remember that. There was, because I was always told that I was really good at making out. And so the girls were always like, oh, I want to try. And

Steve:

so that, to me, it was my tongue ring that got the girls to call me more girls than guys. I think

memories.

Steve:

Yes. But I mean, would you ever say like as much as. We both identify as, as gay and it's a man exclusively. Did you ever have chemistry with any of the girls? Like, was it ever like, oh yeah. In

Stephen:

high school, there was definitely a girl that I was very much attracted to. And sadly I found out last year, During the whole, let trans kids play thing with sports, that she's a horrible bigot. And so yeah. Have written her

Steve:

spark

Stephen:

has gone. Yeah. The spark is completely gone. Thankfully. I can say she did not grow up in my hometown. So anybody listening, it's not anybody that you knew. Okay.

Steve:

Yes. Now Leah tries to cover up how drunk Simon is to his parents. Although his parents see right through it and play cool, letting Leah spend the night like she has for the past 10 years. Do you have any experience trying to like hide your drinking from your parents?

Stephen:

Nope. It was just not a thing whenever I was living with them. So that was not anything. I, I don't know. I was a good kid.

Steve:

I remember spending more time hiding the fact that I was smoking cigarettes from my parents. Easily like a year or two of me smoking before. Like they found out and like, not just like smoking occasionally, but like, I must have always smelled like my cheap ass cologne, like that time, because I don't know how you can like, live with a smoker and not realize they're a smoker, unless you're just like giving them space. Cause they're also probably gross smelly teenager. Yeah. But yeah.

Stephen:

Did you have any girls that were allowed to sleep over? Nope. Did you? Oh yeah, like, but wait I couldn't stay in the same room. Like when it was time to go to bed, I had like, they got to sleep in my bedroom and I had to go sleep in one of the other rooms in the

Steve:

house. Yeah, it was interesting. Like I was always like, even after I came out, it was still, I was allowed to have waste sleep. But not boys that were boyfriends, but I was still allowed to have like the guys sleepover and I was still not allowed to have the girls sleep over. And at that point you would've thought like my parents would have like flipped it or just open it up to all genders at that point. But now, like Laura is still like, it was like, it wasn't until college where I was living with my grandmother where like my Laura would spend the night and have my parents like no and be okay with it. And it wasn't even technically under their roof. It was under my grandmother's. Yeah. But by that point, it didn't really matter. But beforehand. No, it was just boys only.

Stephen:

So Simon and Leah go up to his room where Leah talks about loving one person for the rest of her life. And she means Simon and he pretends he doesn't get it or really doesn't get it because he's so self-involved at that point and drunk and drunk. And instead he gently changes the subject and she goes to bed and she goes to sleep on the floor. Did you ever have somebody that was like that, that was potentially a best friend and they wanted to be more,

Steve:

Not like a best friend situation where like 10 years into it and the feelings were there like that. But I would say that I definitely had girlfriends that were like friends that were girls and then I thought it was purely platonic and then they would start making moves on. I had more game when I was in the closet than I did when I was straight for some reason, or when I was, when I came out as gay. But yeah, I definitely was like chased after, by some, some girls that wanted to date me. And those were the ones who ended up becoming my girlfriend. Cause I just, they wore me down and I had to stop saying no.

Stephen:

Yeah. My last girlfriend was a good friend and. We dated and she's fantastic. And my biggest regret is that as I was coming to terms and getting ready to come out, I was with her. And so like whether we broke up or how we broke up and everything. It was just going to hurt her. All I can say is that she's a much better person than most people I know. And she is 100% fine and fantastic. And we're good friends now.

Steve:

Yeah. Now, do you think that Simon realized that's what's happening here? That she's confessing her love for him? I

Stephen:

D I, I don't think he did because in their conversation later, like at first I think that he's trying to change the subject because he does, but it's their conversation like. Where he she's like I was talking about you and he has that look of what? Yeah. So

Steve:

I don't think so. I don't know. I think that there's like a certain level of awareness that like, you have to have, you have to have, but like he might've chosen not to believe it, but if he's like the thought never crossed my mind. I think that would have been a lie. Maybe he didn't like fully realize it, but like a part of him.

Stephen:

We then get the fabulous. Why do gay people have to come out? Why can't straight people be the ones that have to come out montage. And I love

Steve:

it. It was in all the previews. So even if you haven't seen the movie, you've probably seen this, but it just is. It's true. It's true. In some ways like, and I know that there are even parents who like try and raise their kids like that right now. Like we saw in like queer as folk where they're like, they don't know their pronouns yet. Yeah.

Stephen:

And I do absolutely love that. And you see that online. More and more, whenever people are getting harassed by begets or something online someone will turn around and ask, well, when did you know you were straight? Yeah. And I'm like, God, Put that back on them. Yes.

Steve:

And then it's also followed by as it'll get better in college fantasy dance number. What song from your college years would be in your fantasy version of imagining what it will be like to come out in college?

Stephen:

Oh, and a whole like choreographed dance routine and everything. It probably would have either been heaven by DJ, Sammy or survivor by Destiny's child. Can

Steve:

you guess what mine would have been knowing that like the years oh, Crazy. No, I'll give you a hint. It was by Rihanna.

Stephen:

I don't know, umbrella.

Steve:

It would have been me dance, a new umbrella with umbrellas and the rain, and it would have been fabulous. That does sound

Stephen:

really good.

Steve:

Yes. Now Martin urge assignments and move faster with Abby or else. The email gets leaked. Simon gets Addie and Martin to go with him to rehearse lines for the play at the waffle house. Martin is trying too hard again when she's anything but interested. He begins then like grilling her heart about like her parents divorced and her move from Georgia to here from DC. And so she has to like break down that her dad was like a cheating jerk. Yeah.

Stephen:

And then Martin tries to get Abby to say her name and that she deserves, deserves it, goddamn superhero. And it goes as far as to stand on top of the seat and get all the. Of everybody in waffle house until Abby will get up and say it, and she does and ends up feeling kind of really MP. Yeah. She feels empowered and it's kind of sweet and you're like, maybe he isn't just the worst for now, for

Steve:

now. Meanwhile Simon becomes attracted to the waiter, Lyle who Simon now believes could be.

Stephen:

Yep. Cause Simon walks outside is Lyola sending a message on his phone and they chat briefly and it's very friendly until while he has to go back inside. And then almost immediately Simon gets a message trembling. Yes.

Steve:

And with the timing of it, he thinks that it could be liable for sure. Now, so now we have, instead of having brand be the guy in all of the daydreams about what blue looks like. Yes. Can they be liable for a bit

Stephen:

now? Yep. And blue also says that he's planning to come out to his father and ends the message signing love blue after Simon had already done the love

Steve:

shock. Yes. Simon on later taking Abby home comes out. She said, she's not surprised even though she's never suspected it. And there's that kind of like, you know, do you want me to say that I knew all along. Do you want me to say that I'm surprised, like, not knowing, but I mean, the, the important thing is she stresses that she still loves him. Yeah. Who was the first friend you came out to? Ronnie. How did it go?

Stephen:

He. Called me and told me I was gay because we had been with the same person. Oh, okay. One week apart and the person was like, oh, I've been in this apartment building before and the apartment right above yours. And so Ronnie called me and I was, and at that point I was like, this is it. This is my moment. To just to be honest. Yes. And I do. Wow. And it went really well. That's awesome.

Steve:

Yes. And

Stephen:

what about you?

Steve:

Mine? I'm little still salty about mostly because someone stole my thunder, but my first friend that I came out, she responded back like me too. And I was like, no, this was my moment. You're supposed to be like the person I'm with. Telling that I'll make it all about me. And so it was, I mean, it ended up being nice that we shared the secret. And from what I understand, I think, yeah, I was the first person that he told as well. And so it was like nice to have someone going through it, but there was like a little bit of me that like, because everything's supposed to revolve around me, that was very upset that I had to share that moment with someone

Stephen:

else. Yeah. Now Martin is crowding Simon and his friends at the lunch. And, but he's closest to Abby whether she likes it or not, she

Steve:

seems more friendly

Stephen:

with him. Now they're having fun and doing the whole fry, shark joke, Friday and things. And it bothers Nick who still wants to ask Abby out. And Simon thinking on his feet tells Nick that, oh, you know what? I think Abby likes. And, but, you know, Leah has a crush on you and you should ask her out instead and see

Steve:

like, part of me when I first, like, was critically watching it and saw her, tell him about like loving someone for the rest of her life. Like I read it that time as he knew. And so I read this moment is really shitty, but at the same time, if he didn't know. Which I'm going to like, hopefully like rewrite my, in my story of like that he didn't realize it was about him. Then I can also see this because they did seem to have some chemistry for Halloween when she was helping him with his costume. Exactly.

Stephen:

And so it can be a thing that he was so self-involved with his coming out. That he misinterpreted all the

Steve:

signals. Yeah. And the students go to their homecoming game. Simon sees Lyle and chats with him to find out he's straight and interested in Abby. Cause like every guy in this movie is interested in Abby and what it should have. Well, that is true. I should be just like theirs. Yeah. They really liked the new girl. Yeah. And as Simon walks away, he's approached by Martin. Who's the school mass mascot, because of course he is. Yeah. Yeah. Simon, if he should make a big romantic gesture for Abby to which an apathetic Simon response go bigger.

Stephen:

Oh, Martin uses this as an opportunity to pull a Kanye and interrupt the national Anthem so that he can ask Abby out in front of the entire school, the parents and everyone embarrassed. She gently tells him that she's just not into him like that, but she does want to be friends. Martin walks away humiliated, and I

Steve:

laugh and I laugh and I laugh.

Stephen:

And the assistant principal. Hey everybody. He went out on a limb. Let's give him a hand for that. That took a lot of guts and everybody does clap. So but over Christmas break, Simon tries to call Martin to see if he's okay. Blue then shares that he gonna, he's gonna spend Christmas break in the middle of nowhere, leading Simon to think that it may be Cal, a friend from drama class who said a similar thing about his Christmas plus. And if there was another character in the movie that could be gay, I would have picked Cal out of the list. Yes. Just because of the case of the gay face.

Steve:

Yes, I agree. And it's the way he was the one in, from the previous. I was convinced because they had the fantasy over Christmas dinner of him almost kissing him. Yeah. So I was like, that's one of the guys, or that is the guy. Yeah. Leah then to call Simon, to tell him to go on the Creek secrets blog, Martin, trying to throw away attention from his homecoming debacle. Ultimately post Simon's emails, outing him, making him the worst person in this movie. Period. Nora, his little sister sees the posts and tries to be there for assignment. But when he lashes out at her, she leaves crying.

Stephen:

Yep. This, you know, Simon, the star of our films. If we start really looking at all the things he's done and adding them up, he's not doing too well. Like, so Simon goes absent from his friends during the break, ignoring text calls, everything. He comes out to his parents on Christmas day and they appear okay with it. But his dad Jack makes another bad joke. And Simon's little sister Nora tells Jack to just shut the hell up. And Jack walks away and he and Simon don't speak for.

Steve:

How does your parents react to your coming out? Not well at all. Have they grown since?

Stephen:

Yes. You know, they've grown, they've grown since it was

Steve:

horrible. I understand.

Stephen:

Oh, now I, I wouldn't, that is definitely one part of my life. I would not want to read. Yes,

Steve:

same, but Simon spots his friends on the street. He goes to talk to them, but Nick and Abby are mad at him for making up lies to keep them apart. Simon at mitzvah was going on with Martins blackmail, and he apologizes, but they leave still pissed off. Yeah. Lee is also finally admits to Simon. She was in love with him and would have been fine with him being gay, but she's mad about him lying or. Yup. And are we supposed to feel sympathetic or upset with Simon at this point? Is he the good guy or the bad? I think he's

Stephen:

the bad guy. Like he's our fall, like he's our flawed hero, but I don't think we're supposed to feel bad for him right now. This is the point in the movie where we're rooting for him to get his shit together and make things right with the people that care most about.

Steve:

I felt bad for him, mostly because I remember some of the shitty things that I did to try and throw like the gay sent off back in the day. So I was still really, like, I still feel bad for him. Like I know that he could have done better, but I mean, he's a high school kid with a high school brain doing the best that he can with his high school reasoning skills and life experiences.

Stephen:

I know, but I don't think it excuses it. I want to be like, look at your life, look at your choices. You did this. These people that would have been there for you through thick and thin. And like, he, I know we get to it and a bit about his reasonings, but like these three are three, he could have told

Steve:

yes. And upon returning to school, the other students are all gawking at him after. During the lunch assignments, that's alone. When Aaron and Spencer call out him in Ethan and mock them in front of the cafeteria, insinuating that they're going to be gay together because all gay people belong

Stephen:

together. Especially if there's only a few gay people, of course you're together.

Steve:

Yes. Which is not true. It's

Stephen:

not true. I mean, it's like, oh my cousin's gay. Do you know him? Or my cousin's gay. I should hook you guys. That's not how it

Steve:

works and it isn't, it always frustrating when you ended up having hooked up with them, then you're like, oh no, I'm reinforcing the stereotype. Yes. Mrs. Albright steps in. Yeah. I immediately shut that shit down. Shuts them like the two bellies up, puts them in their place in front of everyone and sends them to the principal's office. And while they might not have been as cool as miss Albright, did you ever have any quilts?

Stephen:

My favorite favorite teacher was Mrs. Deardorff our Spanish teacher. And she was just on this whole other level. And I remember this one day in class where someone was like Do you know, what's going to be on the test on Friday. And she said, yo, no se. And they're like, no, come on. Tell me, y'all know, say no, you can tell me, y'all know, say, tell me bitch. And she goes, yo, no se means, I don't know. You might want to study and watch your tone. And I'm like that any other teacher would have sent him off to the principal's office. And I was just like that's Mrs. Deardorff. She was amazing. Did you? No, no, no cool teachers school teachers, well, Simon and Ethan are forced to go to the principal's office as well so that the assholes can apologize to them. And Simon's talking to Ethan who says that all those he's open and confident about his homosexuality. It wasn't always easy for him and his mother still pretends for the rest of his family. That he's.

Steve:

Yes afterwards, Simon's going home and he's approached by a Martin who was very apologetic, but Simon rightfully tells him to fuck

Stephen:

off. Yeah, there's no redemption for Martin in this most likely. Yes.

Steve:

Blue pulls away after getting back from vacation, going so far as to block Simon, He approaches cow who says that he is not blue and like kind of apologize, but also offers to like talk to them or be there for him. Yeah. Which

Stephen:

is really good. And you're like, well maybe if he isn't blue, I still think he may be gay. So go for it.

Steve:

Assignment then talks to his mom who has no problem with him being gay and says you should be free to be himself. I love

Stephen:

this scene so much. And cause she says, you know, she didn't know he was gay, just that he was keeping a secret. And when he was young, he was so carefree. But the past few years it's been like, he's been holding his breath and she says, you get to exhale now and you get to be more you than you've been in a very long time.

Steve:

Yes. And this wasn't originally in the script and his parents didn't even know. Significant roles garner went to, Berlanti asking for the scene to connect your character, to sign. And so they built the script again and wrote this, which is essentially the message of the film. Yeah. And

Stephen:

it's really good. And I think, I couldn't imagine the film without their family scenes, because it does anchor the

Steve:

film. Yeah. Even, even after this, when he makes right with his dad who apologizes for like all the dumb jokes. Yeah, he still gets across the point that he loves to son supports him and is proud of him. And Simon then helps Jack come up with a good slideshow for his, and Emily's 20th anniversary because no matter how much of a Delfy is he still a dad, which means he can't do technology. Yeah.

Stephen:

And Jack was so proud of the slideshow he had made. And Simon told him that that looks like a fourth grader could have made it and not like one of the really good tech savvy fourth graders, like want to just the average or slow kids. Simon finds Leo walking her dog on the street and he's pretending to jog by and he apologizes to her for lying. And he says that she's his best friend. And if Simon had told her that he was gay, it could have changed everything. And with everything going on in his head and everything else, he couldn't have handled that. And he admits that he's falling in love with blue. And he was also afraid that if the emails got bleeped, that Ballou would run. Which he did, and she forgives him and now wants to know more about blue.

Steve:

And as Simon continues to grow up really quickly, he posts a confession to the blog where he accepts himself and also apologized to those. He heard just about all of his classmates and teachers read it and blue will read it as well. So he puts in an invitation for blue to find him somewhere after the school's. The students at school begin to show a greater respect for Simon after this.

Stephen:

And now it's time for the school to finally put on their production of cabaret, which goes mostly well until the tea on the cabaret sign breaks. After the show, Simon's friends, invite him to go with him to the carnival, you know, showing that all may not be forgotten, but at least all was forgiven. And segment takes this entire stash of tickets and uses it to ride the Ferris wheel over and over and over again, waiting for blue to show up. Yes.

Steve:

And as much as we would all love to think of such a big romantic gesture, would you be one of the people watching on to see what happens? 100%. I wouldn't have

Stephen:

left. How long would you wait it until he gave up? I would do you know the FOMO? If I had waited there for two hours of him riding it and finally. I'm going home, I'm tired. And then everyone's like, oh my God. As they were turning the lights out, he showed up and I'm like, when? And they're like, oh, like two minutes after you. Yeah, I would have waited until he had given up. Oh, see, I would

Steve:

have been like, all right, he's been around twice. This bitch isn't coming. And I would've gone on to like take advantage of shorter lines on other rides.

Stephen:

No, like this is all in the hole. Never been kissed type of thing too. I would have been at the baseball field too.

Steve:

Yes. And he is kept waiting. For quite some time. And it he carnivals had to close up and Simon's out of tickets. Brian Martin shows up and says he's blue and we all cringe. And the fear that it somehow possibly can make sense, but luckily they quickly realized that it's not Martin was just trying to make it up to Simon, or it gives the ride operator a few extra bucks to keep it going one last time. Now, is this redemption for Martin or is he still a scumbag deserves to die? A Virgin of autoerotic asphyxiation.

Stephen:

My thing is if you can forgive Simon for all the lies and stuff that he did to his friends, you can work on redemption for Martin,

I

Steve:

guess. So I'll allow it.

Stephen:

Okay. And just then blue finally arrives and it turns out to be Bram. Oh my goodness. Simon realizes it's you know, oh my God. Bram is blue. Blue is brain.

Steve:

Yes, Bram emits. That w what he saw at the party was a drunk moment that ended quickly and Bram asks, are you disappointed? It's me?

Stephen:

And they reached the top of the Ferris wheel and Simon and Bram kiss and everyone cheers. So obviously he's not disappointed. No, he's not.

Steve:

I mean, cumin streamy. Yeah. So I, yeah, but I, I love that like, bit of insecurity where after everything that they've been through, they're still like nervous. Around each other, but not nervous enough to have quite the public display of affection. Yeah. And they live happily ever after.

Stephen:

And people start using the Creek secrets less to anonymously, say things about others, but more to bravely share things about themselves, which good for them. Yes.

Steve:

And we see Simon picks up his friends from school now, including Bram as they've begun dating. And as they ride to school, Simon notes, that it's a beautiful day and they should go in and adventure and his friends agree and they track. For

Stephen:

fine. Yep. And unlike in Greece, the car does not fly into the air.

Steve:

It does not.

Stephen:

Now, is there any fun trivia you'd like to share with us?

Steve:

I, I couldn't find it, but apparently Becky Hallberg Holly's second novel. The upside of unrequited can be seen on Simon's bookshelf as a shout out to the author. That's really

Stephen:

cute. And you know, many of the friend group scenes. We're filmed after Berlanti had called, but kept the film rolling and older to have their interactions be genuine. And like when they were dancing in the car and stuff like that, and it, they do seem like realistic friends and realistic teens. Yes.

Steve:

They certainly do. I really love this movie. I do too. You know, who I

Stephen:

also love our

Steve:

fans. Yes. And we would love to hear what you think of love Simon or us. And if you love us, you could do that by emailing us@happylifepodatgmail.com,

Stephen:

or you could always, you know, leave us a five star on apple podcasts because that helps to show up more. But you can also get in touch with us on all the socials, whether that is Facebook, Instagram, Twitter tech talk at happy life pod and

Steve:

my space. No, not my space, my space or Creek secrets? No. Okay. All right. Well until next time everyone stay happy.