13 March 2020

The Sun is Also a Star (2019)

If you’re a romantic at heart, if you believe in destiny, or if you just need a good ol’ dose of the feels, this one’s for you.

Jamaica-born pragmatist Natasha isn’t in the market for romance. In fact, she doesn’t even believe in love. Also, she’s about to be deported. Then a stranger saves her life on the street and, over coffee, tells her they’re meant for one another. It’s never going to happen, obviously, but Natasha’s willing to give him an hour of her time. Are they star-crossed, or was their meeting just a random coincidence? 

The Sun is also a Star is a coming-of-age love story based on the best-selling young-adult novel by Nicola Yoon, who also penned Everything, Everything.

It stars BET YoungStars Award-winner and People’s Choice, Teen Choice and Black Reel nominee Yara Shahidi (Zoey from Black-ish and Grown-ish) and Teen Choice nominee Charles Melton (Reggie from Riverdale, Mr. Wu from American Horror Story: Hotel). Also look out for Golden Globe nominee John Leguizamo (When They See Us, The Hollow Point), and Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Deuce’s Larry Brown).

It’s rated 13+ by Common Sense Media, and teens are sure to love it, but, says Washington Post, you “don’t have to be a lovesick adolescent to fall, just a little, for its goofy energy,” while RogerEbert says “The leads are so lovely and the city is so shimmery that it’s hard not to get caught up in its spell.”

2019 Teen Choice Awards nominee for Choice Summer Movie Actor (Charles Melton) and Actress (Yara Shahidi). 

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