Sweetheart
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Sweetheart
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Sweetheart is a British coming-of-age comedy drama about a queer teenage romance, with smoking, drinking, and drug taking. While on a family holiday that she reluctantly agreed to go on, April or "AJ" (Nell Barlow) falls for local lifeguard Isla (Ella-Rae Smith). The array of characters are all shown to be multilayered, being kind as well as flawed. They mostly manage to acknowledge their shortcomings to each other and show willing to accept those who are different from themselves. However, despite good intentions, AJ's mother and sister do come out with outdated views on gender and lesbianism, which contrasts with other more openminded characters that AJ meets. Sex is infrequent, with some kissing and petting, and one sex scene with no graphic nudity. There are several uses of "s--t" and variants of "f--k." During a party scene, characters vape, misuse laughing gas, smoke pot, and drink to excess. There are also several other references to being drunk and stoned.
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What's the Story?
SWEETHEART follows AJ (Nell Barlow), an awkward British teen, who falls for local lifeguard Isla (Ella-Rae Smith) while on holiday.
Is It Any Good?
This modern update of a familiar teen holiday romance movie stands out for its honest portrayal of social awkwardness, sexual anxiety, and living as a young queer person. Despite a lot of familiar cliches, Sweetheart manages to keep its bickering characters interesting enough to keep us wondering how Brooks' 17-year-old AJ will deal with her first real crush. Less compelling is a voiceover of AJ's internal monologue, which lets debut writer-director Marley Morrison fill in too many of the gaps between what isn't said. It results in a lot of predictable dialogue, with Brooks' performance sometimes becoming too one-note and single-paced.
Building out Smith's character -- and the object of AJ's desires -- Isla to be more than the kind of free-spirited dream girl who always seem to populate this type of story, might've helped add some depth. Likewise, the movie's one even-tempered, level-headed character, Steve (Samuel Anderson), is also sidelined as AJ's sister's always-obliging boyfriend, when perhaps he could've been utilized with a bit more imagination. If you can forgive the cliches, this is still a warm-hearted and inclusive look at growing up, which offers glimpses of plenty of talented newcomers in front of and behind the camera.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the drinking, smoking, and drug use portrayed in Sweetheart. Did it glamorize it? Did the characters need to do these things to look cool? Were there consequences?
Discuss the relationship between AJ and Isla. Did it unfold how you were expecting? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Talk about AJ's arguments with her family. Why did their different world views and lifestyles cause them to fall out? How did they overcome this?
Discuss some of the language used. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How did AJ change throughout the movie? What did she learn about herself and other people? What examples of compassion, empathy, and gratitude can you give from the movie?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 29, 2021
- Cast: Nell Barlow, Jo Hartley, Ella-Rae Smith
- Director: Marley Morrison
- Studio: Film Movement
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Empathy, Gratitude
- Run time: 103 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: July 25, 2022
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