“Summer Of 69” on Hulu delivers the well-known coming-of-age story of a teenager looking to have sex with a person they’ve spent so much time daydreaming and fantasizing about. The difference here is that first-time director and co-writer Jillian Bell uses this trope as the base to a deeper story about friendship.

ABOUT “SUMMER OF 69”

In “Summer Of 69”, we follow Abby Flores (Sam Morales), a high school senior and video game streamer with a huge crush on lifelong classmate Max Warren (Matt Cornett). The issue is that Abby suffers from a lack of self-confidence, and Max seems to always be in a relationship for as long as she can remember. But as they get ready to wrap up their senior year, she finds out that Max has broken up with his girlfriend. Wanting to capitalize on the opportunity, Abby learns from the school mascot that Max is allegedly into 69.

SUMMER OF 69 – An awkward high school senior hires an exotic dancer to help seduce her longtime crush before graduation, leading to unexpected friendship and lessons in self-confidence, acceptance, and adulthood. (Disney/Brett Roedel) SAM MORELOS

Abby hangs on to this rumor and develops a plan. She uses money saved up from her streaming channel and hires a stripper named Santa Monica (Chloe Fineman) to teach her how to be a “sex machine” and get the guy of her dreams. In the case of Santa Monica, she is working at a local strip club that, while not failing, has an owner (Paula Pell) who is in a lot of debt. If the club can’t come up with 20 grand, the club will be taken over by rival club owner Rick Richards (Charlie Day). Santa Monica plans on using Abby’s money to try and save the club.

WHAT WORKS IN “SUMMER OF 69”

I enjoyed the chemistry between Morales and Fineman. What starts as a teenage girl just trying to get laid ends up being a fun story about friendship that showcases the value and importance of having someone to teach you certain things about life during those terrifying teenage years. I like how they showcase the contrasting conversations she has with Santa Monica versus all of the ones she had with the school mascot, which adds to that narrative.

SUMMER OF 69 – An awkward high school senior hires an exotic dancer to help seduce her longtime crush before graduation, leading to unexpected friendship and lessons in self-confidence, acceptance, and adulthood. (Disney/Brett Roedel) SAM MORELOS, CHLOE FINEMAN

WHAT DOESN’T WORK IN THE FILM

“Summer of 69” gets a little too busy at times. At one point, Abby daydreams (or daynightmares?) that felt out of place as it just happens once throughout the film. Then the sub-plot of Santa Monica’s high school reunion just seems to slow the film down and is only there to set up a convenient resolution.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

This is a strong start to Bell’s directing career. She takes a familiar trope and fills it with characters you can empathize with and a story about friendship filled with heart. All while creating funny moments throughout the film.

“Summer of 69” premieres on Hulu May 9th.