Movie: White Frog
Genre: LGBTQ YA drama
Run time: 93 minutes
Movie website: http://www.whitefrogthemovie.com/
Streaming through Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/White_Frog/70260077
Synopsis: High-school freshman, Nick (The Twilight Saga’s Booboo Stewart), is a neglected teen with mild Asperger’s syndrome whose life is challenged and ultimately changed forever when tragedy hits his family. WHITE FROG is a universal story of the power of family, friendship, and love positioned to appeal to a broad audience in the same way as ORDINARY PEOPLE and STAND BY ME.
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Tams
Review: Nick has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, and the only person that can get close to him is his brother Chaz.
When Chaz is killed, Nick goes into a tailspin and only finds his way back through Chaz’s friends. But along the way Nick not only learns so much about himself, but he learns a secret his brother was hiding, a secret that threatens to destroy not only Nick and Chaz’s family but all the progress Nick has made.
The family dynamic that has always been closed knit and portrayed a level of perfections is torn apart when Chaz dies. His mother withdraws, his father who was never much present for Nick anyway becomes even more unavailable. And Nick reverts back to non-communicative. One of Chaz’s friends reaches out to Nick and starts including him in the activities his brother used to do with all of them. Slowly Nick comes out of his shell and Chaz’s friends become his friends. But then a picture changes everything.
So often, both of the major aspects of this movie are misrepresented in films. This movie was so spot on with the Asperger’s Syndrome idiocentricities and the little things that people who don’t live within the spectrum don’t know. They don’t like to be touched, they focus on certain or very few colors, and they are highly intelligent but socially awkward. And Boo Boo Stewart was so believable as Nick. He is such a great young actor. He has this innocence about him that translated to this role. Then there is the LGBTQ aspect to the movie that is conveyed in a positive manner as well. Nick has to decide how he feels about learning one of his new friends is gay, and this is a very hard thing for an Aspie to do. Not just figure out but deal with their feelings, and then to express them is a whole other ball game. Especially when he was raised in a church and within a family that is slightly homophobic.
I just loved everything about this movie. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me laugh while crying. Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion. This is a must see movie, if you have Netflix it’s streaming! I would even say its family friendly. Even with the LGBTQ aspect, it’s not an adult movie. It’s a fantastic family movie. I think I’m going to have to buy a copy and add this movie to my collection.