MIDNIGHT SUN: For Those Intent On A Sob
When it comes to making a film that’s aimed at a teen audience, there is one genre we can always count on to be reproduced at an almost yearly rate. Young adult romances are consistently made and are generally popular. There have been some that have come out that managed to transcend the doom of those that came before it, but Midnight Sun, unfortunately, keeps the dreadful streak of duds going.
A Nighttime Summer Romance
Midnight Sun is a remake of a 2006 Japanese film of the same name. The premise follows 17-year-old Katie (Bella Thorne), who suffers from a rare condition known as Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP). She gives us a brief description in the beginning, and it’s obvious right away that this is quite serious. If she is exposed to the sun, even for a moment, it could be fatal.
Katie is a home school graduate, living alone with her father Jack (Rob Riggle) since her mother passed. Most of her time is spent isolated, looking out from behind her protective windows. It’s worth noting that she can and sometimes does go out at night, but not nearly enough. With her condition she’s unable to do a lot of things, of course, but there is still an abundance of activities that could be experienced after the sun sets. So why doesn’t she? Don’t expect an answer, because you’ll be let down. Her only social interaction seems to be with her bold best friend Morgan, played by Quinn Shephard.
Over the years one of her pastimes has been watching her neighbor Charlie (Patrick Schwarzenegger), as he skates by her window. She’s developed a crush on the sensitive swimmer but doesn’t make a connection (or even speak to him) until a random run-in at the train station. You see, Katie is an aspiring musician, so she occasionally goes out to the station and performs her original songs.
The two meet, and I’ll admit – there is some chemistry. Katie isn’t particularly articulate when she comes face to face with the boy she’s been spying on, and she’s hesitant to pursue, but Charlie doesn’t easily give up. Eventually, she gives into the pull between them, and they fall in love. Things progress fast, but there is one specific aspect of her life that she keeps from him, one that is far too important to keep hidden.
I bet you already know where this is headed!
Disproportionate Distribution
Our two attractive leads, Bella Thorne and young Schwarzenegger, are a little uneven in their performances. Sometimes it’s charming, and sometimes they stumble. Charlie is a bit bland, and there are aspects of Katie’s character that lack plausibility, which drags down the role no matter who’s playing her. Quinn Shephard and her spunky depiction, along with the subplot of her geeky friend/boyfriend Garber (Nicholas Coombe) works, and Sun could have benefited from giving them more screen time.
The curious casting choice in Rob Riggle to play the over-protective (understandably) father surprised me. There haven’t been many acting opportunities for him that were dramatic, but he manages to still have humor in his inflection when necessary, while successfully nailing the serious nature of the story. Lest we forget, this is a real disease, though it’s not portrayed completely accurately, and it is challenging to not get weepy.
Nicholas Sparks must be so proud!
This is also Midnight Sun’s biggest deficit. When you read the plot description for this film you don’t expect to be zealously skipping out of the theater, but the movie, directed by Scott Speer, is a letdown. He doesn’t hesitate to squeeze out every possible drop of anguish, which is arduous in a film of only 90 minutes. Written by Nicholas Coombe, there is a lack of ingenuity, with a weak grasp on sustainable believability. I.E: there are scenes that play out like a lifetime movie. I’m sure some won’t mind the tonal zig-zags, or unanswered questions, but it tarnished the film for me.
Their love story, specifically viable in the beginning half of the film, is a bit uneven. However, it is cute when necessary, and fresh with that awkward teenage first-love. The problem, and it’s a big one, is what happens when Midnight Sun decides to follow the trail of previous attempts, like A Walk to Remember, The Fault in Our Stars, and Everything, Everything. Things must eventually come crashing down, and the integrity of the movie goes along with it.
Once they do, and I don’t want to full on spoil things, we’re treated to a brusque lineup of events that are neither surprising nor particularly enthralling. Rather than portray awareness of a very real disorder, it’s used as a tool to incur drama and demand tears. There is a superfluous section, hammering home the damage, that is intent on digging in as much as possible. But…being sappy for the sake of being sappy, feels more like silly.
Conclusion: Midnight Sun
I’m a sucker for romance when the shoe fits, and a lot of disappointment came from this film’s heavy-handedness. What positive vibes the movie did create were wiped away by the need to produce dramatic finality with cliché-ridden narratives.
In the end, the intended emotional upheaval feels cheap, and Midnight Sun wasn’t able to overcome its limitations.
What did you think? Were you able to look past its flaws? What are some of your favorite young-adult romances?
Midnight Sun came out in theaters in the US on March 23rd and the UK on March 30th. For more international release dates click here.
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