Crush is a teen romantic comedy that has a light feel to it while still managing to address deeper issues. Paige (Rowan Blanchard) is an aspiring artist forced to join her high school track team. She uses this as an opportunity to get closer to her crush. Instead, she finds herself drawn to someone else. The film is a queer rom-com that does things entirely different. Crush is not a coming out story or about becoming comfortable with one’s sexuality. On the contrary, everyone is comfortable with themselves and their classmates. This allows the humor to move to the forefront.
Crush wastes no time bombarding audiences with jokes. The opening is essentially a montage of colorful and creative puns that someone has plastered around the school. Another example of the rapid fire comedy is the always funny Megan Mullally, who plays Paige’s sex positive mother. It is a portrayal of high school life that is not often seen. It is not filled with angst nor does it wave everything away with a quip. Like most teenagers, Crush lives for the moment. It is filled with emotional peaks and valleys as Paige tries to figure out what she really wants from life.
The cast all have great chemistry. Whether it is about crushes, passionate couples, or longtime friendships, the movie is about relationships. There is never a scene that seems to be happening just to advance the plot. Every interaction means something which makes the film more engaging. There is an overall togetherness that is refreshing to see.
Romantic-comedies are mainly about wish fulfillment and making the audience smile. High school rom-coms also add nostalgia to the mix for good measure. Crush is a fun teen rom-com that focuses on laughs but is still able to project a message of positivity. It hits some familiar beats of the genre, but does enough to stand on its own two feet.
Crush premieres on Hulu April 29
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