‘Griffin In Summer’ Review – Nicholas Colia’s Charmingly Simple Debut Feature [Tribeca 2024]

There are very few things that can stop a passionate artist from pursuing their dreams and making their next great work. The drive and persistence they exhibit while creating, painting, writing, etc. is truly unmatched. Falling asleep at the desk, tossing and turning in bed whilst thinking of new, innovative ideas, and a perfectionist streak that will never be satisfied. Classically, we see this experience in media portrayed by middle-aged to older people, driven to this point either by the weight of continued success or perpetual failures throughout their careers.

Nicholas Colia’s feature debut, Griffin in Summer, gives us a unique take on this kind of story offering it through the lens of a middle school playwright. Writer Griffin (Everett Blunck) and director Kara (Abby Ryder Fortson) have gathered their friends together to put on another play as they do every summer, but some of them don’t have as much time to give as they did when they were younger. As Griffin continues writing his latest play at home, Regrets of Autumn, he continues to be distracted and ultimately enamored with a young man, Brad (Owen Teague) who has been helping out around the house while his father is away. 

Griffin in Summer has the most jarring opening scene of the year, showing Griffin in a school talent show with a performance that won’t be spoiled here. The film’s tone is revealed immediately, not leading anyone astray in what’s to come. It’s both hilarious and brazen, holding nothing back. This same unhinged energy continues to show as Griffin and Brad spend more and more time bonding over their shared passion for the performing arts. Brad had previously been in New York trying to make it big on the stage but has returned home due to financial struggles. Griffin initially becomes infatuated with Brad due to his bulging muscles as he moves things around the house. These unrequited feelings he develops get stronger as the summer wears on, and blind him to red flags that affect the play he is writing.

Despite its humor, the story and performances are incredibly charming and endearing. Blunck in particular is wildly earnest and relatable as he navigates a first love and sexual awakening. The way he stumbles over his words or agrees to something just to appease Brad is so real and hits close to home for those who have experienced something similar. Teague’s performance brings most of the humor as the airhead actor turned handyman, but gets the opportunity to deliver some hard critical dialogue throughout the film. You can see why Griffin throws out his perfectionism and control of his play just to get him involved. He thinks that if he just does and says the right things, Brad might ignore the age gap and pick him over his girlfriend (Kathryn Newton). Anything is possible to a boy like Griffin, even a crush as unrealistic as this.

The beauty of Griffin in Summer lies in its simplicity. No one part oversteps and takes over from the rest. The writing is great, it looks wonderful, and it has a charming score. Hand in hand with Kelly Fremon Craig’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, this film shows that simply growing up and experiencing new feelings and evolving friendships is drama enough. There’s not any outlandish scene that takes the audience out of the film, but instead stays grounded in reality. Writer-director Nicholas Colia brings a truly refreshing and delightful story to life that has a lot to say about young love, heartbreak, and balancing your feelings within the creative process, and Everett Blunck and Owen Teague emerge from this film as bright young actors to follow in the years to come.

Griffin in Summer held its World Premiere as a part of the US Narrative Competition section of the 2024 Tribeca Festival.

Director: Nicholas Colia

Screenwriter: Nicholas Colia

Rated: NR

Runtime: 90m