Griffin in Summer is a perfect little gem of a film: warm, hilarious, and masterfully led by Everett Blunck in a breakout performance that deserves every ounce of awards buzz coming his way. This young actor’s comedic timing, emotional depth, and effortless charisma are the stuff Oscars are made of. If he doesn’t land a nomination, there is simply no justice.
Exquisitely written and directed by Nicholas Colia, the film centers around fourteen-year-old theater prodigy Griffin Nafly (Blunck), a boy so sure of himself, his passions, and his budding playwright career that you can’t help but root for him—even when he becomes a little unyielding about what he wants and needs.
See Also: ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Review: Nothing’s Gonna Keep This Franchise Down
Griffin’s long-suffering mother Helen (played with wry brilliance by Melanie Lynskey) has her hands full—her marriage is crumbling, her glass of white wine is never far, and she can’t quite figure out how to parent her precocious son. Griffin’s best friend Kara (Abby Ryder Fortson, once again showing she’s a star on the rise after Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.) is more patient with him, but as summer pulls her toward boys and carefree fun, Griffin’s grand basement production of his play Regrets of Autumn – a marital drama about alcoholism and infidelity that would make Tennessee Williams proud – begins to unravel.
Kara’s absence and his ragtag cast of friends (Johanna Colon, Alivia Bellamy, and Gordon Rocks) don’t exactly help; none of them have the chops to pull off Griffin’s melodramatic masterpiece. Meanwhile, Helen hires Brad (Owen Teague), a brooding twenty-something neighbor’s son, to tackle handyman projects around the house. At first, Griffin bristles at the intrusion, but soon finds himself curiously drawn to Brad in ways that are both tender and confusing, complicating his already chaotic summer.
Lynskey shines in her understated comedy, capturing a mother who is both distracted and deeply human, while Teague brings a moody charm as the performance artist-turned-reluctant handyman chasing his own New York dreams. Their characters, like everyone in Griffin’s orbit, are wrapped up in their own struggles, leaving Griffin to stumble through his first big summer of self-discovery mostly on his own. The chemistry between Blunck and Teague, in particular, is wonderfully handled: funny, awkward, and unexpectedly poignant.
Colia has crafted a comedy that is as heartfelt as it is hilarious. The laughs sneak up on you, genuine and frequent, while the emotions run surprisingly deep. This is a throwback coming-of-age story in the best possible sense: layered, relatable, and bursting with heart.
Griffin in Summer is the kind of film that audiences of all ages will fall in love with. It’s whip-smart, touching, and endlessly entertaining. Nicholas Colia proves himself a filmmaker to watch, and Everett Blunck delivers a performance so perfect it feels like a star being born right before our eyes.
Griffin in Summer opens in select theaters on August 29, 2025.
