Gay teen romance timely and pleasantly diverting

Doheny (left) and Marziale

“Alex Strangelove” presents its gay teen romance in a formulaic manner, but it manages to offer some distinct thoughts on the matter despite overused tropes.

It joins the growing number of inspired LGBT coming-of-age tales, where teenagers confront their own sexual truths. The Netflix movie centers on Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny), who says he isn’t opposed to sex. “I just haven’t found the right girl,” he confidently declares in the initially cheerful voiceover narration.

Alex is a high school senior achiever—he’s neither a nerdy misfit nor the athletic type. He hits it off with the new girl, Claire (Madeline Weinstein), who becomes his video channel’s cohost and eventually his girlfriend.

Things go swimmingly for the new lovebirds, who welcome the idea of having sex soon. Things don’t go according to plan, however, when Alex meets the charismatic Elliott (Antonio Marziale), with whom he gets stoned at a party.

The openly gay, slightly older guy makes a subtle impact on Alex that the idea of getting intimate with Claire becomes confusing—and planning his devirginization, a chore.

Daniel Doheny (left) and Antonio Marziale

“Alex Strangelove,” written and directed by Craig Johnson and produced by Ben Stiller, mostly feels like a throwback to ’80s teen rom-coms, except that it has a more contemporary mindset about gay issues. The mostly muted hues and stretched-out pacing help create an atmosphere of familiarity, mainly of angsty adolescent longing.

The comedy parts are adequate, from Alex Truelove’s trio of sidekicks (Daniel Zolghadri, Nik
Dodani, Fred Hechinger), to the gross-out bits and sex jokes. The drama should lure in more responsive viewers, though—the sparks between Alex and Elliott are intense, especially since the former’s sexual chemistry with Claire is absent.

Doheny delivers with his portrayal of the stupefied and guilt-ridden teenager with long-buried issues. His potential paramour, played by Marziale, is delightful—initially a stoic cool guy, but ultimately a deeper, more sensitive person. A scene where he lip-synchs both the male and female vocals of a B-52’s song is charming as heck.

“Alex Strangelove” has cheesy and corny parts, as well as an ending that looks like a public service announcement, but overall, the emotionally resonant scenes and competent acting make this “coming out” tale timely and pleasantly diverting.