Alex Strangelove is a tale about a teenager who is confused about his sexuality, and aptly the narrative of the tale itself is also a bit confusing. This story is told rather messily, with some jumping narratives involving Alex and not fully focusing on the “gay” side of what is a “gay” story.
The movie centres around Alex Truelove, and he has a girlfriend. He’s been with her for almost about 8 months and they still haven’t had sex. Obviously the story centres around this tension — why is Alex seemingly afraid of having sex with his girlfriend? Well, the plot twist — he is attracted to someone else, a guy.
Spoilers ahead: In the cusp of discovering himself, Alex sees himself as bisexual, he does everything he can do to “be on the straight side” and inevitably fails because he cannot actually get an erection for a woman. It is notable that in this transition of understanding, there seems to be problematic narrative discourse around how bisexuality is presented. It suggests that bisexuality is a form of confusion or just a stepping stone to “truly” being gay.
While the criticism of the film is very valid and not to be ignored, I believe in its own dysfunctions it allows people to feel okay with being dysfunctional, to be flawed. Maybe in doing so the film seems to “come out” more as a public service announcement in the end, telling the audience it is okay to be yourself, and find your own way.