Crush: Safe Queer Coming of Age

Sammi Cohen’s Crush follows the formula of “boy meets girl, they fall in love, boy losses girl and then wins her back” but with a same-sex couple. Crush attempts to be different but falls subject to a comforting format.

Paige is a high school junior whose goal is to attend CalArts summer program. Her plans are derailed when she is blamed for a mysterious artist’s public displays around campus. She joins the track team to get close to her crush while also avoiding expulsion for a crime she didn’t commit. As the uncoordinated Paige comes around to the idea of track she forms a bond with her crush’s sister.

At the core of this film is a love triangle between the two sisters and Paige. It follow suits to predecessor films where the protagonist finally gets with their crush only to lose interest in them and realize their best friend is their soulmate. In this case it is her crush’s sister. Paige’s interest from one sister to the next weirdly flip flops even though she spent the first half of the movie obsessing over Gabriela. Being in the middle of two sisters is a complex conflict but the film never dives into the tension, it quickly drops and moves on.

The world of Paige feels flat. It is hard to resonate with her and the world of flat side characters and no emotional backing. Each character is assigned a dominating trait that tells nothing about who they are and feels unnecessary. They are trying to provide comedic relief but just weigh down the plot.

All in all Crush offers a positive representation of LGBTQ+ youth even though it lacks substance. The film never focuses on homophobia or otherness of sexuality, everyone just functions normally amongst each other. The film had potential to do so much more but just feels like a watered down Disney Channel film starring two former Disney stars.