Title: Summer of 69
MPA Rating: Not Rated
Director: Jillian Bell
Starring: Chloe Fineman, Sam Morelos, Natalie Morales
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins

What It Is: Abby (Morelos) is a young woman in love with her classmate Max (Matt Cornett). She’s eager to give him what the locker room talk suggests he wants, but she’s inexperienced when it comes to sex. One night, she stumbles into a strip club and sees Santa Monica (Fineman) dancing on a pole—convinced she’s found the mentor she needs. Santa Monica, however, isn’t exactly willing to help a teenage girl without something in return.

What We Think: This is a phenomenally funny film, and it’s clear that Jillian Bell—who also directs, alongside co-writers Jules Byrne and Liz Nico—knows what’s funny. As a director, Bell shows she’s got real juice, especially in the film’s opening credit sequence, which is an awesome throwback. They don’t make teen comedies like this anymore, and I really wish they did. These films have a place in cinema, and streaming honestly feels like the perfect home for them. Hulu picking this up is spot-on.

I love the performances. Chloe Fineman, a veteran on SNL, may not always hit with her sketches there, but she’s fantastic here—bringing real dimension to Santa Monica. Sam Morelos is a breath of fresh air. She’s fairly new on the scene, and since I don’t watch That ‘90s Show, this was my introduction to her. I can’t wait to see her do more!

Our Grade: B-, I cannot recommend this enough—it’s fun, funny, and a crisp 101 minutes. It’s also easily accessible on Hulu. Everyone here is operating at a pretty high level, and that’s what makes this such an easy recommendation. I’d love to hear what you all think of it. Comedy is such a hard thing to pull off, but this one understands the assignment and gets it right.