Summering

This indie tween friendship drama shows early potential, but the uneven tone and unrealistic plot twists dampen its impact. There's a lot to enjoy about the "tweens on a mission" storyline, a plot that audiences have been drawn to for decades. Whether it's in Stand by Me, which Summering seems like an homage to, or Stranger Things, it's easy to root for a group of preteens solving a mystery, even when they consistently engage in risky, age-inappropriate behavior. But while writer-director James Ponsoldt and co-writer Benjamin Percy accurately capture some of the feelings of being a tween girl, the dialogue is inconsistent, as are the girls' character arcs. The movie also tries to be both lighthearted and tear-jerkingly realistic, as with Daisy's backstory of a checked-out single mom (Lake Bell) who's mourning after the loss of (or the abandonment by) her husband. There are references to substance use and a startlingly upsetting (and contrived) scene between a sobbing Daisy and parent. One moment the girls are joking or trying to accomplish a goal together, and the next there's a literal gunshot. It just doesn't work the way the filmmakers intended.

Plus with four girls, a dead body, four moms, and a runtime of a little less than 90 minutes, there's not enough nuance available for each girl. Brief exchanges tell rather than show how different their personalities are. For example, Dina is logical and science-based, while Lola believes in spirituality and the afterlife. Ponsoldt did a lovely job with the adaptations of The Spectacular Now and The End of the Tour, so it's disappointing that Summering doesn't live up to those standards. But the four child actors deserve a shout-out for doing their best with the material. Hopefully they'll all be cast in more coming-of-age films in the future, but Summering, for all of its credentials, falls flat of expectations.