There is a new indie coming-of-age comedy in theaters called Pools, and ScreenHub Entertainment was invited to the red-carpet premiere. It’s a surprising film that takes some classic elements and refines them for a new age. Will this heartfelt comedy make a splash?

The Plot

Pools follows Kenedy, a Shakespearean wood nymph of a college student in the midst of an existential crisis. In a desperate attempt to escape the pressures of school, the pain of trauma, and the sweltering Chicago summer heat, she gathers a group of unlikely associates to embark on a pool-hopping adventure that will change all of them forever. Along the way, they will face angry homeowners, unfortunate beverage choices, and some hard truths about who they are and who they aspire to be. 

A Beautiful Mess

Pools starts off fast, hurling you headlong into the deep end of Kennedy’s frazzled mental state. The whole film is an emotional roller coaster, with hilarious highs and unexpected drops into the emotional depths of young adulthood. The tonal changes may feel jarring at times, some of the tropes feel a bit heavy-handed, and occasionally, characters will make truly baffling choices in the name of moving the plot forward. But if you can let yourself take the ride and go with the flow, you will find a film that is sweet, charming, and more profound than it has any right to be.

Who Should Watch?

Anyone who likes John Hughes movies from the 80s should definitely give it a watch. Pools has the fun of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with the emotional punch of The Breakfast Club. It’s messier than either of those classics, but it feels appropriate to a modern audience. If you are interested in watching something that will make you laugh, feel, and seriously consider doing something wild and reckless, even just for a moment, I would definitely recommend Pools.