KJ Apa
Griffin
The Last Summer
“Your real life is about to begin”
2019
1h 49m
Director: William Bindley
Overview
Standing on the precipice of adulthood, a group of friends navigate new relationships, while reexamining others, during their final summer before college.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Last Summer, or the Art of Saying Goodbye Without Really Trying
I’ve always had a soft spot for the summer-before-college movie. There’s something about that liminal space—no longer a kid, not yet an adult—that feels ripe for storytelling. It’s a season of possibility, of course, but also of endings, of friendships that will fray under the weight of distance and new beginnings. The Last Summer, William Bindley’s 2019 Netflix rom-com, understands this tension in theory.
In practice, it’s a film that wants to have its cake and eat it too: to be both a breezy, sun-dappled ensemble piece and a meditation on the bittersweet nature of growing up. The problem is, it never quite decides which one it wants to be.
The premise is simple enough. A group of recent high school graduates in Chicago spend their final summer before college navigating love, lust, and the looming specter of adulthood. There’s Griffin (KJ Apa), the golden boy with a secret; Phoebe (Maia Mitchell), the girl next door who’s always been just that; Alec (Jacob Latimore), the musician with a heart of gold and a habit of self-sabotage; and a rotating cast of friends, exes, and potential love interests who drift in and out of the frame like fireflies on a humid night.
The film’s tagline—"Your real life is about to begin"—promises something weighty, but the execution is far lighter than the setup suggests.
Bindley, who co-wrote the script with his brother Adam, has a knack for ensemble-driven stories (see: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2). Here, he tries to juggle multiple perspectives, cutting between characters and their respective romantic entanglements with the efficiency of a seasoned TV director. The problem isn’t the pacing—it’s the emotional stakes.
For a film that’s ostensibly about the end of an era, The Last Summer often feels curiously detached from its own premise. The characters talk about change, about the fear of the unknown, but the film itself rarely lingers on the moments that might make those fears feel real. There’s a scene where Griffin and Phoebe sit on a dock, staring at the water, and you can almost feel the potential for something deeper.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.2/10
"A lighthearted but forgettable teen romance with charming leads and a lack of depth."
Viewers appreciate the chemistry between the young cast, particularly KJ Apa and Maia Mitchell, which adds a playful energy to the summer romance premise. However, the story feels predictable and lacks originality, latestnetflix.com maintains, leaving little lasting impression beyond its breezy runtime.
What viewers praise
- Charming lead performances KJ Apa and Maia Mitchell bring a likable, energetic dynamic to their roles, making the romance feel engaging.
- Lighthearted tone The movie’s upbeat, summery vibe works well for casual viewing, offering a low-stakes escape.
- Visually appealing The cinematography captures a warm, nostalgic summer aesthetic that enhances the film’s mood.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows well-worn teen romance tropes without adding anything fresh or surprising.
- Lacks depth Characters and conflicts feel underdeveloped, leaving the film feeling shallow and forgettable.
- Weak supporting cast Side characters are forgettable, with little impact on the story or main relationships.
Recommended for
Teen romance fans KJ Apa or Maia Mitchell fans Casual summer movie watchers Lighthearted comedy lovers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s The Last Summer: Behind the Scenes of the Star-Studded Rom-Com
The Last Summer (2019) arrived on Netflix as a sun-soaked, star-packed rom-com, promising a nostalgic farewell to high school for a group of Chicago teens. Directed by William Bindley, the film stars KJ Apa (Riverdale), Maia Mitchell (The Fosters), and a roster of young Hollywood talent. But beyond the trailer’s glossy party scenes and beachy vibes, what was the real vibe on set? latestnetflix.com's read is that here’s what the evidence reveals about the making of this Netflix original.
A Cast That Actually Bonded (No PR Spin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTBz-M5BnbM
While many teen movies rely on manufactured chemistry, The Last Summer’s cast seems to have genuinely clicked behind the scenes. A Netflix featurette shows the ensemble—including Apa, Mitchell, Jacob Latimore, and Halston Sage—hanging out between takes, sharing meals, and even playing pranks. The video captures a relaxed, playful energy, with the actors joking about everything from on-set mishaps to their characters’ love lives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsh7bh8AlR0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQlX317HyAI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1hhOfK5cVE
Mitchell and Apa, in particular, appear to have had a blast. Multiple clips showcase their dynamic, from guitar lessons to a fiery "burn battle" where they roasted each other’s home countries (New Zealand vs. Australia). Their off-screen camaraderie likely translated to the screen, where their characters, Phoebe and Griffin, share one of the film’s central romances.
The Film’s Mixed Reception: "Hilariously Dumb" or Underrated?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeKwlWyqdF4
The Last Summer didn’t exactly set critics on fire. While it holds a modest 4.4/10 on SensCritique 
, some viewers leaned into its unapologetic silliness. A YouTube reaction video calls the film "hilariously dumb" but in a way that’s "weirdly charming," praising its lighthearted tone and lack of pretension.
The movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page doesn’t list a critic score, but the cast’s star power and Netflix’s marketing push suggest it was designed more for bingeability than awards buzz. Given its premise—a group of recent grads navigating love, friendship, and adulthood over one final summer—it’s easy to see why some dismissed it as formulaic. Yet, for fans of the genre, the film’s breezy 109-minute runtime and ensemble cast might be enough to justify a watch.
What’s Missing? The Unanswered Questions
Despite the behind-the-scenes clips and reviews, some details remain frustratingly vague. For example:
- No word on the budget or box office: Unlike theatrical releases, Netflix rarely discloses viewership numbers or production costs for its original films.
- Director’s vision: William Bindley’s previous work (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, The DUFF) leans into YA storytelling, but there’s no direct quote from him about The Last Summer’s creative process.
- Deleted scenes or alternate endings: The evidence doesn’t mention any cut content, leaving fans to wonder if the film’s romantic pairings were always set in stone.
For now, The Last Summer remains a snapshot of a specific moment in time—both for its characters and the young actors who brought them to life.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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