Winter Spring Summer or Fall movie storyline. Following a chance encounter, wunderkind Remy (Jenna Ortega) and music-obsessed slacker Barnes (Percy Hynes White) become inexorably entwined in each other’s lives. As winter turns to spring and spring turns to summer, the two find themselves falling in love. But with Remy heading to Harvard in the fall, the young couple are forced to reevaluate what’s truly important to them.
Courtesy of seasoned rom-com screenwriter Tiffany Paulsen, Winter Spring Summer or Fall is a Gen Z love story brimming with charm that will tug on the heartstrings regardless of age. Loaded with classic tropes like the meet cute, prom and, of course, that climactic sprint, Paulsen’s film is a reminder why these stories endure over the years and why audiences keep coming back for more. The two lead performances from Ortega and Hynes White bring to mind Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke in Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise with a generous helping of YA fizz.
Winter Spring Summer or Fall is a 2024 romantic drama film directed by Tiffany Paulsen from a screenplay by Dan Schoffer. It stars Jenna Ortega, Percy Hynes White, Marisol Nichols, and Adam Rodriguez. It had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival on June 6, 2024.
Film Review for Winter Spring Summer or Fall
There has always been a place within the cinematic landscape for a good ol’ coming-of-age love story. While not every one of those stories falls into the category of the works of Cameron Crowe or, moving away from coming-of-age, Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, the placement of these films with the proper actors and chemistry can often result in cinematic gold.
With Tribeca 2024’s selection, Tiffany Paulsen’s Winter Spring Summer or Fall, the latest exploration of young love through the Crowe/Linklater lens aims to be a poignant exploration of first love. However, it fails to add originality and depth to an already rich tapestry of films that execute these ideologies in a more satisfactory fashion.
Winter Spring Summer or Fall follows Remy and Barnes. As the two embark on a year-long journey through the trials and tribulations of first love, Remy and Barnes must navigate their personal differences and life goals to decide whether the relationship they’ve established is worth continuing.
Dan Schoffer’s screenplay is riddled with clichéd dialogue and shallow character development. It lacks the depth needed to fully invest in Remy and Barnes’ relationship. The screenplay’s most glaring issue is the duo’s initial meeting; rather than a natural progression, Barnes’s motive comes off as both stalker-ish and creepy, leading to the emotional beats falling flat due to a lack of believable buildup. In turn, Barnes’s pursuit of Remy feels more manipulative than honest.
Winter Spring Summer or Fall’s title has a level of irony to it, as the film’s pacing also suffers with a continuous narrative that drags making it feel as though we are stepping through four seasonal changes to complete the film.
While there’s a lot to dislike about the film, there’s no denying that the soundtrack is not one of them. The inclusion of the Talking Heads was an utter delight and stands as the film’s most effective storytelling device, culminating with a Say Anything homage that, while not fully earned, was a nice touch in concluding the film.
Yes, the methodology behind the establishment of the relationship is questionable, but it’s hard to ignore the chemistry between Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White. With the duo already having established chemistry from working on Wednesday, they carry that over to Winter Spring Summer or Fall. While their connection is undeniable and they do their best to elevate the material, it remains difficult to look past the surface-level nature of the characters.
Winter Spring Summer or Fall was a film I was looking forward to screening at Tribeca with the acting talent leading the way. However, it ultimately turns into one of the festival’s most disappointing additions thus far.
Winter Spring Summer or Fall (2024)
Directed by: Tiffany Paulsen
Starring: Jenna Ortega, Percy Hynes White, Marisol Nichols, Elias Kacavas, Adam Rodriguez, Jacqueline Emerson, Evangeline Barrosse, Kate Rachesky, Alexis Zollicoffer, Sunny Sandler, Sadie Sandler
Screenplay by: Dan Schoffer
Production Design by: Gabriel Jessop
Cinematography by: Graham Robbins
Film Editing by: Simon Davidson
Costume Design by: Alyson Hancey
Set Decoration by: Ashley Cook, Ambyr Mishelle
Music by: Zac Rae
MPAA Rating: R for teen drug and alcohol use, and brief language.
Distributed by: Republic Pictures, Paramount Global Content Distribution
Release Date: June 6, 2024 (Tribeca Festival)
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