Crush Review: A Charismatic Cast Leads Sweet Teen Romance That Plays It Safe
Crush follows one of the most common tropes of teen comedies: Unrequited love. Only this time the key characters are all queer, which is in and of itself a refreshing change. Directed by Sammi Cohen from a screenplay by Kirsten King and Casey Rackham, Crush is a sweet teen romance that it plays it far too safe for it to reach its full potential.
The story follows Paige (Rowan Blanchard), a bright young artist who desperately wants to attend a prestigious arts school after graduating high school. The application prompt that gives her pause asks her to recall her happiest moment. Sadly, Paige can’t come up with one. She hopes that Gabby (Isabella Ferreira) will be the one to give her a truly happy moment as she has been crushing on Gabby for years. As she contemplates her future, an opportunity arises to join the track team to get closer to Gabby. However, as with all great teen romances, things don’t go as planned. Paige develops feelings for someone else, and that someone else is Gabby’s sister AJ (Auli'i Cravalho).
Related: Hulu's Crush: The 10 Funniest Quotes
The film has a relatively thin script full of quips and sass, but little substance for the characters. This is all well and fine when the goal is to have Crush be a fun and enjoyable ride. A great deal of attention went towards the aesthetics of the film instead of the characters. From the characters' costumes to the cinematography, the film seeks a level of comfort and style that many teen comedies fail to have. Paired with charismatic actors, Crush’s overall feel and tone are delightful. However, it would have been nice if the film didn't play it so safe and pushed to have its characters be more than what they are.
Blanchard is charming as Paige, a confident yet
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