REVIEW: 'Summer of 69' Is A Pleasurable Execution Of Young Messy Love

If you ever wondered what an R-rated Disney Channel movie would be like, look no further than Summer of 69 on Hulu.

The coming-of-age comedy follows the nerdy high school senior Abby Flores (Sam Morelos) on a quest to win her heart's desire, the affection of the most popular boy in school, Max Warren (Matt Cornet). Upon the revelation that he is now the high school's most eligible bachelor, she turns to the stripper Santa Monica (Chloe Fineman) for guidance as she plots to seduce the boy of her dreams. Along the way, Abby learns about her desires and what truly matters as her tutelage under Santa Monica blossoms into an unexpected sisterhood.

Summer of 69 is not at all what I expected. It is something much better: a hilarious, insightful film about growing up, acceptance, and confidence. The teen comedy is the directorial debut of actress, comedian, and screenwriter Jillian Bell, and an intimate demonstration of what she is capable of behind the camera. Bell delivers a gut-busting film with real emotions attached, masterfully entertaining viewers while connecting with them through clever writing and relatable performances, guaranteed to leave lasting impressions.

The Dynamic Duo

Sam Morelos and Chloe Fineman make a compelling case for how they could be the best comedic duo on screen in spring 2025. If you told me that this girl from That 90's Show and this Saturday Night Live comedian would have so much chemistry in a movie about a girl being mentored by a stripper, I would have questioned your sobriety. Having seen them together, I will admit to the pair being an unstoppable force of wit and wonder.

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Sam Morelos captures the innocence and awkwardness of Abby Flores in a way many shy teenage girls can relate to. We immediately get a first impression of her in the opening scene. Her on-screen presence sets the tone of the movie, and no time is wasted on her introduction. As for Chloe Fineman, she exudes confidence, courage, sex appeal, and spontaneity as Santa Monica. She has everything Abby is looking for, plus some insanity. Imagine Cinderella's fairy godmother not being available, so she gets a drunk fun aunt instead. That's exactly what you get with Santa Monica.

Abby is the yin while Santa Monica is the yang. Although they are not in conflict for all eternity, they are opposite souls who need each other for balance. Seeing them work together and learn from each other on their way to becoming friends is equally entertaining and compelling. Their chemistry is palpable, though their bond is unorthodox, you can easily feel the sisterly bond as it organically develops throughout Summer of 69.

The Back-Up Squad

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The supporting cast are mostly extensions of Fineman's character, Santa Monica, but they do have the right flavour to complement both of the leading ladies. Paula Bell, Nicole Byer, and Liza Koshi are unfiltered and fierce as a neurotic support system. Their screen time with Morelos and Fineman feels like women enthusiastically talking nonsense, enjoying each other's company at a hair salon, a very cheap one, though.

The rest of the cast comprises Abby's parents, who are absent in the majority of the film, a creepy antagonist played by Charlie Day, and Natalie Morales as Fineman's nemesis. Finally, there is Matt Cornet as the legendary Max Warren, who is more of a plot device than a character.

Summer of 69 Goes Hard & Deep

Comedy has been a crippled film genre for years. For too long, it has been oversaturated with jokes that completely miss the target because they do not know where it is. Summer of 69 does not have that problem as the talent is allowed to be organic and collaborative to have their risks pay off.

The movie is surprisingly sympathetic as the focus is not on telling dirty jokes for the sake of checking off boxes for an R-rated comedy. What we see is a ballad to young girls not only finding, but also accepting themselves, in an age when sex is all on anyone's mind. Jillian Bell and her team accomplish exactly what they set out to achieve with this movie because they are passionate and unapologetic in their resolve to deliver a raw, substantial coming-of-age tale.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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About Summer of 69

Premiere Date: May 9, 2025

Maturity Rating: R

Executive Producer: Jeremy Garelick, Will Phelps, Molle DeBartolo, Jillian Bell, Breanna Bell-Singer, Matt Skiena, Adam Goodman, and Lucas Carter

Writer: Jillian Bell, Liz Nico, Jules Byrne

Director: Jillian Bell

Production: American High, Dichotomy, Champagne Video

Distribution: Hulu

Cast: Chloe Fineman, Sam Morelos, Matt Cornett, Nicole Byer, Liza Koshy, Natalie Morales, Alex Moffat, Fernando Carsa, Paula Pell, Charlie Day

Synopsis: An awkward high school senior hires an exotic dancer to help seduce her longtime crush before graduation, leading to unexpected friendship and lessons in self-confidence, acceptance, and adulthood.