CRUSH -- The Cheesy Queer Representation We Wanted

Review by Paris Jade

As we've reached the year 2022, it's finally time for more queer films to rise into the industry. The world's latest LGBTQ+ flick is Crush, presented by Hulu. Thank you, Hulu, for giving the queer community the representation it needs, from Love, Victor in 2020 to now with Crush. Crush is positively directed at Generation Z, which isn't always a bad thing if you can pull it off right, and this film does. 
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This is honestly a simple, cheesy teen romantic comedy. It's a very predictable film as the plot goes; it's like any other romantic comedy. There are a few awkward moments in the dialogue, but some of it makes you laugh anyways. It goes through all the clichés. The main character, Paige (Rowan Blanchard), has an overbearingly supportive mother, a cheeky best friend, and of course, a crush on the most popular girl in school. If that's not the plot of every teen rom-com, then what movies have you been watching? The only difference is that it's queer. However, this does not make it a bad film. If you are a queer teen and love a good cliché film, this could be the film for you. It's incredibly relatable as a queer teen. Half of the things that Paige says in the movie are things said by almost any queer teen, which makes it so great and feel real. A great example is a joke that any queer teen has made regarding "the straightest thing they could do," which the main character makes. ​

This type of representation should be presented in more queer films. It's real, and it feels normal. Yes, the main character is a lesbian, but that is not what the plot is about. The main story is about someone blaming Paige for spray painting the school and putting graffiti everywhere. She decides to investigate and find the actual perpetrator, called the King Pun. She just so happens to have a crush on the most popular girl in school, which is the film's B plot. It's one of the more casual representations in a movie where her sexuality isn't her entire personality — a tendency in Hollywood which is most definitely annoying.

This casting was great. Rowan Blanchard did a fantastic job of playing a socially anxious lesbian; of course, she does identify as queer herself. Paige is a very cute and funny character. Her quirky way of having conversations makes you laugh. Anytime she is in an awkward conversation, she makes a weird fun fact that makes the other person uncomfortable. It's honestly adorable, and you can't help but laugh. The rest of the cast has excellent chemistry. They work incredibly well together. If you need a good cheesy laugh, don't want to watch anything serious, and are a queer teen looking for some refreshing representation, then Crush is the film to see.

Crush releases on Hulu on April 29th

Rating: 3/5