Griffin in Summer is directed by Nicholas Colia and produced by Rachel Matthews and Camila Mendes. The movie follows a boy named Griffin (Everett Blunck)who is unusually mature for his age and passionate about acting and creating plays. Determined to make the most of his summer, Griffin decides to stage a play with his friends. He approaches the project with remarkable professionalism, treating his friends as part of a serious production. Along the way, he meets a young man Brad (Owen Teague). While Brad is working for Griffin’s mother, Griffin invites Brad to help with the play sparking a summer full of creativity, collaboration, discovery, and romance.

Griffin in Summer is an enjoyable drama-comedy.  What makes the film particularly entertaining is the contrast between Griffin’s surprising maturity at such a young age and the moments where his immaturity still shines through. In some situations, he behaves with impressive responsibility and wisdom, while in others, his more childish side emerges, adding humour and authenticity to his character. I also really liked the unique element of watching the characters perform a play within the movie. It added an extra layer of creativity and engagement. The cast overall was fantastic. Everett Blunck and Owen Teague had amazing chemistry together, especially given the age difference between them. One scene highlighting Owens’ talent is when he is doing the play and then starts to shout while performing a dramatic piece. He was quite scary to watch and even some of the characters in the film get scared of him, but then he switches out of it and goes back to his quiet usual self. This was fun to watch but also showcased his talent.

The film has some good comedic moments, such as how Griffin followed SAG guidelines. This was a clever element and made for some funny laughs. One of the elements that drew me into the story was its focus on acting and the process of putting on plays. This helped spark my interest and made me more engaged with the story. Having done acting and created plays in the past, I could relate to this element in some ways. Kathryn Newton appears in a smaller supporting role, delivering a comedic performance enhanced by her use of a humorous accent.

Griffin in Summer features a great cast and is a fun, unique film that takes an original approach to a story we haven’t seen done before. The comedy delivers some chuckles along the way. If you’re looking for something fresh with standout performances, I highly recommend it.