‘Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe’ Review – A Charming Coming-Of-Age Film About Friendship, Love, And Self-Discovery

Queer coming-of-age films, and media in general, are experiencing a bit of a revolution, with the popularity of shows like Heartstopper and the release of movies like Red, White, and Royal Blue and Bottoms. Queer youth are finally seeing their stories reflected in fiction with as much depth and care as their straight counterparts. Aitch Alberto’s Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe tells the story of two Mexican-American teenagers who befriend each other and ultimately fall in love in 1980s Texas.

Based on Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s 2012 novel, the story opens with Ari (Max Pelayo), short for Aristotle, meeting the charming and friendly Dante (Reese Gonzales) at the community swimming pool on a hot summer day. He takes Dante up on his offer to teach him how to swim and is immediately drawn in by Dante’s maturity and worldview. While Dante was raised by forward-thinking, artistic parents (Eva Longoria and Kevin Alejandro), Ari’s parents (Eugenio Derbez and Veronica Falcón) are loving, homely, and old-fashioned. Ari and Dante quickly grow close, and the two spend their days at the pool and gallivanting across town on the city bus, discussing their lives. Their bond even survives Dante’s family spending a year in Chicago. As they exchange letters, updating each other on the current status of their lives, Ari begins to realize that the longing he feels goes beyond that of friendship.

Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe is a sweet, thoughtful, and moving exploration of how a life-changing friendship can blossom into true love. Pelayo and Gonzales bring much heart, seriousness, and talent to their respective roles. Although both characters’ names are in the title, the film focuses on Ari’s journey. This leaves Pelayo doing much of the heavy lifting in the movie, and he more than handles it. His facial expressions and body language can communicate Ari’s perpetual state of trying to seem cool and unphased while being deeply vulnerable and sensitive. Ari is fiercely protective of those he cares about but realizes that those he loves have their shortcomings and flaws that they don’t want to be exposed. We see this during scenes where Ari interacts with his supportive but guarded parents. They refuse to share with him why his older brother is in jail, and Pelayo aptly portrays his character’s frustration with familial secrets in his household.

Gonzales brings astonishing vulnerability and confidence to his portrayal of Dante. The character is wise beyond his years, thanks to his progressive parents, but unsure of himself, especially regarding his sexuality. The movie misses an opportunity to improve on the book by having much of Dante’s discovery of his sexuality happen off-screen and communicated to the readers/viewers through his letters to Ari. Chronicling Dante’s journey on screen as he discovers his own sexuality would have been powerful and would have elevated the material. Although Gonzales doesn’t get as much screen time as Pelayo, he does a great job of embodying his character well and making him likable and lovable.

Longoria and Alejandro don’t get much screen time, but they do a great job of embodying the type of loving, accepting parents that every queer person deserves. Derbez and Falcón do an excellent job, as well. They’re guarded and protective, but with good reason.

The scenery in the film is also worth mentioning. The dusty roads, sun-lit evenings in the park, blue, boundless Texas skies, and expansive deserts that make up the film immerse you in this quiet love story taking place in its small little corner of the universe.

Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe is a great and faithful adaptation of a profoundly moving young adult novel. It successfully retains and translates the story of friendship, love, and self-discovery to the big screen.

Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Blue Fox Entertainment. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBuIr-azx04]