Alex Strangelove is a 2018 American romantic comedy film, written and directed by Craig Johnson and starring Daniel Doheny, Antonio Marziale and Madeline Weinstein.
The film had its world premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival on April 14, 2018. It was released on June 8, 2018, on Netflix.
Plot
High school student Alex Truelove has been friends with Claire for a while. After discovering her mother is being tested for cancer, she and Alex share a moment where Alex comforts her. They kiss and then begin dating. After Alex is embarrassed in front of his friends about still being a virgin, he and Claire make a plan to book a hotel room and have sex for the first time.
At a party, Alex meets Elliot, an openly gay teenager. Alex's continued interactions with Elliot, who has an obvious crush on Alex, lead him to question his sexuality. Alex confesses to his friend Dell that he believes he might be bisexual, but Dell says that he is just nervous about losing his virginity to Claire and his anxiety has led him to a false conclusion. One day while hanging out in Elliot's bedroom, Alex kisses him, but immediately regrets it and storms out.
During the evening of their first time having sex, Alex blurts out to Claire that he has feelings for someone else and she throws him out. Later, still avoiding Elliot, Alex goes to a party where he drunkenly sleeps with a girl he only just met. Claire catches them, and Alex chases her into the night. He falls into a swimming pool where traumatic memories from his childhood come back to him. Claire finds him by the pool, where he confesses to her that he is gay. They decide to go to prom together anyway.
At prom, Claire reveals she has invited Elliot to be Alex's actual date, knowing that neither of them would actually make the move without her "passing the baton". While Alex is initially concerned about everyone watching him, he decides that his affection for Elliot is stronger and kisses him.
The story ends with Alex creating a video with Claire detailing his coming out.
Cast
Daniel Doheny as Alex Truelove
Antonio Marziale as Elliot
Madeline Weinstein as Claire
Daniel Zolghadri as Dell
Nik Dodani as Blake
Fred Hechinger as Josh
Annie Q. as Sophie Hicks
Ayden Mayeri as Hilary
Kathryn Erbe as Helen
Joanna P. Adler as Holly Truelove
William Ragsdale as Ron Truelove
Isabella Amara as Gretchen
Sophie Faulkenberry as Sierra
Dante Costabile as Dakota
Isley Reust as Isley
Jesse James Keitel as Sidney
Production
In May 2016, it was announced Craig Johnson would write and direct the film, with Jared Goldman, Ben Stiller and Nicholas Weinstock producing the film, under their Red Hour Films banner. STX Entertainment would distribute the film. In April 2017, Netflix acquired the film, with STX Entertainment still producing the film. That same month, Daniel Doheny joined the cast of the film. In June 2017, Nik Dodani and Antonio Marziale joined the cast of the film.
Filming
Principal photography began in May 2017.
Release
The film had its world premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival on April 14, 2018. It was released on June 8, 2018, on Netflix.
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of based on reviews, and an average rating of . The website's critical consensus reads, "Alex Strangelove offers a refreshingly insightful – and fittingly adult – take on teen sexuality enlivened by smart humor and a fearlessly progressive approach." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 62 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".