That first love hits you like a boulder- hard and completely unexpected. For Juli Baker, she knew it the moment she laid eyes on her new neighbor Bryce. Unfortunately for her, Bryce didn't see it quite as clearly. Flipped is their story.
Directed by Rob Reiner, Flipped is a classic coming of age story with a unique twist: we get to know how both of our protagonists react to the exact same situations. Telling part of the story from the eyes of Juli, Reiner opts to return to the beginning and unveil Bryce's thoughts and motives concerning the same set of actions. This method is different than anything I have ever seen, and it brings about a humane connection to both characters as we understand and sympathize with their individual, though not entirely independent, course of action.
I feared that the story would be exhausted by the reliance on such young actors as Madeline Carroll and Callan McAuliffe. Their involvement was anything but trivial to the overall success of the story, and seeing as how the film was set in 1963, I was unsure of how well each would understand and react to the time period. My worries were entirely unwarranted as both excel within their roles, bringing about a resounding mix of youthful innocence and budding adolescence.
The catchy music and placid cinematography create the perfect backdrop to the slowly developing love story, and one can't deny the solid cast of supporting stars. Each plays its part in producing a sweet, tranquil film that focus on its characters rather than its explosions. It's a nice detour from the typical summer film and makes for the perfect back-to-school adventure that every family will enjoy. Rob Reiner delivers his best film yet; young or old Flipped is one adventure you won't want to miss!
