Who would have thought a love letter to swimming pools could keep you hooked for ninety-nine minutes! At the heart of Sam Hayes's feature debut are swimming pools, those shimmering blue beauties with an undercurrent of class politics. In the sweltering Chicago heat, a group of college kids decide to go pool-hopping through the posh neighborhoods of their college town. They were willing to risk arrest to experience the joy of diving into one; the risk was worth it for the momentary relief from the summer heat that had briefly paralyzed their lives. The group was mostly made up of students who barely knew each other, and over the course of the film, they forged an unlikely friendship, one you'll remember for a lifetime.
As a coming-of-age dramedy, Pools is refreshingly original. Not the laugh-out-loud kind, but a lighthearted, warm, and heartwarming drama. Identity is always at the heart of the coming-of-age genre, as people navigate the difficult path of becoming adults, and Pools encapsulates the phase just before entering the real world. Kennedy, our protagonist, was an academically struggling economics student. Everyone around her sensed that a personal tragedy had affected her deeply, but Kennedy refused to talk about it. She couldn't concentrate on her studies and most of the time she was doodling or writing song lyrics in class.
Director: Sam Hayes
Writer: Sam Hayes
Stars: Odessa A'zion, Mason Gooding, Michael Vlamis
She was willing to do anything to escape the monotony of life, even though she knew running away wasn't an option. She had to put her head down, do what was expected of her, and accept that she would lose her soul in the process, never experiencing the joy she felt now. The entire world had practically embraced such a dull existence, and Kennedy had almost come to accept that she couldn't break free from it. She sought permission to live her life, especially from the one person who mattered so much to her, but who was no longer there, and found no answer. Kennedy always wore a wide, mischievous smile; Her fun-loving, eccentric personality was almost like a mask she'd put on to avoid being asked the real questions or revealing the agony she so carefully concealed. Kennedy wanted to live her life to the fullest one last time before admitting defeat, and on this night of crazy adventure she was joined by: the muscular college heartthrob Reed; the uptight perfectionist Delaney; her best friend Shane; and the studious medical school hopeful Blake.
I'm here for everything the pool symbolizes: from class hierarchy to innocent fun and the sheer joy of floating (both symbolically and literally). In the film, you only see private pools, which (obviously) only the wealthy class can afford. Although they had a steady stream of income, a well-maintained pool, and virtually every imaginable luxury, they lacked the enthusiasm, excitement, and innocence needed to experience the true joy of diving into a pool and letting go.
For them, swimming pools were simply a symbol of wealth, but for desperate college students, they were spaces that brought immediate joy and allowed them to do something crazy. It's not about taking over private pools, but rather borrowing the space and claiming it just for one night. In addition to the social commentary, which, albeit indirect, will be revealed over time, there is also a deep personal connection between the protagonist and the pool, which adds an extra layer of intrigue. Not to mention the sensory pleasure conveyed on screen when the characters dive into a pool after a sweltering, humid day.
The warm, saturated tone used in Pools, along with the rapid-fire bursts of speed combined with the slightly eccentric characters, conveys a Wes Anderson-esque atmosphere. Through the script and the overall treatment of the characters, Sam Hayes manages to create his own style. It's fun, bright, vibrant, and quintessentially summery, all wrapped in a blanket of nostalgia. If you're someone who finds themselves in the phase of routine and effort, Pools is a serene reminder of the time in your life when you dared to take a risk, without realizing how lost you were, but that's probably why you were happier back then.
Kennedy is a complex character, and she seems extremely spontaneous, but little by little you discover the reason for her behavior. Her complexity stems from a relatable crisis, and throughout the film, she tries to decipher the reason for the contradictions she experiences. Odessa A'zion is THE star of Pools; not only did she act in the film, but she also performed two songs and was one of the executive producers. She embodies Kennedy perfectly and captures his conflict aptly. Mason Gooding, as Reed, brings the humor.
Reed is not only the heartthrob everyone admires at college, but he also has a backstory that will make you appreciate him even more. Ariel Winter plays Delaney, the only one in the group who had met Kennedy before. An uptight young woman with a very clear vision of her future, she was practically the polar opposite of Kennedy, but they shared a beautiful friendship. It's easy to pigeonhole yourself after playing an iconic and beloved character like Alex Dunphy on Modern Family, but we can say that Ariel Winter is on the right track.
Tyler Alvarez as Blake, a young man striving for academic excellence but also yearning for an unforgettable summer night, was a delightful addition. One of the series' most memorable supporting characters is undoubtedly the Air Conditioner Man, played by Michael Vlamis. The character is both funny and surprisingly deep! Most of the supporting characters are somewhat one-dimensional, but considering it's a ninety-nine-minute film, it makes sense to focus on Kennedy. Yes, it would have been nice if the characters had a little more depth, but of course, considering it's a lighthearted comedy-drama, too much of that could have ruined the film.
Pools ends on an optimistic note that some might even consider a bit cliché. But considering the film's overall atmosphere, where nothing is too serious, it might as well be considered wishful thinking. The focus here is on the "becoming" rather than the end result, and the journey is a delight to watch. Give Pools a try if you like coming-of-age dramas—it's refreshing and very enjoyable.
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