User Reviews

In the same vein as Richard LInklater's ""Everybody Wants Some", with a dash of "The Way Way Back", "Dazed and Confused", or "Adventureland", but not nearly as good as the last 3 of those. It's about even with "Everybody Wants Some", which I didn't love btw. That's all to say that this is a slice of life flick with multiple characters and no central plot. It's a time capsule.

Unfortunately, most viewers will give-up on this before the midway point. The films latter half is much better than the first half. I read a review that was harping about the climactic original song being terrible and poorly written. The reviewer basically claimed it was so bad that is was clearly the worst aspect of the film. Personally, I found the song to be about the most redeeming quality, and encompassed one of the strongest moments of the film. It's not among the greatest "original to film" songs ever-written, but to say that it's the single biggest issue isn't doing the song, or this very average film justice:)

The film basically centers around the relationships between 3-20ish couples during a summer on the Jersey shore.

The last 40-minutes and the fantastic soundtrack make this passable/average. The film would have been stronger if it were based solely on the relationships involving the main protagonist. Burns and his onscreen son needed more screen-time here. I cannot recommend this one, even with the bangin' soundtrack. The time capsule aspect isn't great either(look, feel of '80s). There are just too many relationships here to develop. The first 45-min will be pretty tough for most to get through. I got an idea! Forward-it to the midway point. There's my recommendation.

I've seen much worse, but very average flick.

54/100.

2018's Summer Days, Summer Nights is directed by Edward Burns. Watching the film, you feel like it drew from Ed's experiences as a teen living on Long Island. On paper, "Summer Days" seems legit. You know with its block parties, its beaches, and its coming-of-age, summer love. On screen however, the results can seem mixed. This is even with the narrative of "Summer Days" kinda making you feel like you've spent a summer with these beach blanket, be bop characters.

So yeah, Summer Days, Summer Nights is about summer on Strong Island circa 1982. Past romantic flings arise, new ones come into focus, and plenty of brewsky-s are drunk. In the middle of all of it is co-star and Greek chorus Eddie Burns. He plays the dad of one of the lover boys cause well, that's what he does. Burns is a decent actor but his script for "Summer Days" needed to be a little tighter. I mean something more than a burned out 90210 episode.

Feeling like a PG rated version of Hot Summer Nights and/or '93's Dazed and Confused (talk about being restrained), Summer Days, Summer Nights is swiftly-paced but strangely uninteresting in its first two acts. As for its setting of sunny Reagan Era, the flick doesn't get its time and place right except for the 70s/80s soundtrack (which is quite good actually). Hairstyles and clothing suggest the 90s, cars suggest the 60s, and hey, no one says "radical" or "awesome".

Burns can certainly tell a story (or interconnecting stories) but this is a misguided attempt at inner nostalgia. His subjects involved aren't exactly the most likable people. Most of the young adults in "Summer Days" are wishy-washy, sort of conspicuous, a little soap opera, and hey, nothing of import really comes out of their mouths. At a rating of 2 stars, Summer Days, Summer Nights is nearly a summer "bummer".