Hey there, friends! 🌞
This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 123! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.
So, I recently decided to dive into a movie night, cozied up with some popcorn and high hopes, and landed on “Midnight Sun” from 2018. Directed by Scott Speer, this film promised a blend of teen romance and drama, but it didn’t quite shine as bright as I was hoping it would.
First off, the plot. We’ve got Katie, played by Bella Thorne, who’s living with this rare condition called XP – basically, sunlight is a big no-no for her. Enter Charlie, our heartthrob, played by Patrick Schwarzenegger, who knows nothing about her condition. They meet, sparks fly, you know the drill. But here’s where it gets twisty – or, well, where it was supposed to. The whole star-crossed lovers vibe is meant to pull at your heartstrings, but honestly, it felt more like pulling teeth.
I gotta say, Bella and Patrick are cute enough on screen, but the chemistry? It was like trying to start a fire with wet matches. You keep striking, hoping for a flame, but nah, it just ain’t happening. And it’s not entirely on them; the dialogue had me cringing more than smiling. It’s like, I get what they were aiming for – a touching, tear-jerking romance – but it landed in the “been there, seen that” pile without bringing anything new to the table.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a good love story, especially one that’s supposed to tug at the heartstrings and make you reach for the tissues. But “Midnight Sun”? It felt like I’d seen this movie a thousand times before in different wrappers. The whole forbidden love due to a tragic illness trope has been done… and done… and, well, overdone.
It wasn’t all bad, though. The movie does have its moments, and the acting is decent. Bella Thorne is charming as Katie, and Patrick Schwarzenegger (yes, that Schwarzenegger) is surprisingly good as her love interest, Charlie. They have a certain sweetness together, and there were a few scenes that genuinely tugged at my heartstrings. I do get why a lot of people loved this movie.
But for me, the cheesiness factor was just a bit too high. The dialogue often felt forced and melodramatic, and some of the plot points were predictable to the point of being painful. I found myself cringing more than crying, which, you know, isn’t exactly the emotional response you’re aiming for in a tearjerker.
By the way, did you know XP, or Xeroderma Pigmentosum, is actually super rare, affecting about 1 in 1 million people in the United States? It’s a real condition that seriously impacts lives, which adds a layer of authenticity to the movie’s premise. It’s just a shame that this genuine, interesting foundation wasn’t built upon in a way that felt fresh or engaging.
So, after all that, where do I stand? “Midnight Sun” was a swing and a miss for me. Maybe it’s just me, but I felt like had the potential to be a moving, memorable film but ended up feeling like a reheated plot served with a side of cheese. And not the good kind of cheese, but the kind that makes you go, “Eh, I think I’ll pass.”
In the grand scope of things, it hasn’t soured me on the genre. I’m still a sucker for a good love story, just maybe one that brings a little more to the table next time. So, here’s to finding that movie that does catch the sun, or at least doesn’t make me want to hide from it.
Catch ya on the flip side đź‘‹
Roger