That One Summer Review: An Enjoyable Coming-of-Age Drama!

July 7, 2026 Surya Komal 0 Comments Aaron Stylez, Azuri Hardy-Jones, Coming-of-age, Drama, Dramas, English Movies, Hollywood, Hollywood Movie Reviews, Hollywood Movies, Kalani Jules, Marae Allen, That One Summer

There is something inherently nostalgic about stories centered around a single childhood summer, one filled with adventures, friendships, silly mysteries, unexpected dangers, and experiences that remain vivid long after childhood itself has disappeared. Much like the Mexican coming-of-age film Jardines del Bosque, which I watched recently, Aaron Stylez’s That One Summer revolves around an unforgettable summer that changes the lives of its young characters. Set in 1994, the film combines a warm coming-of-age drama with elements of mystery, following three teenage girls whose seemingly ordinary summer gradually becomes far more eventful.

The film centers around Alex, Melissa, and Jackie, three close friends dealing with their own adolescent struggles. They get into trouble, face bullies, rebel against their parents, hold emergency meetings, visit arcades, and generally spend their summer in a way that feels distinctly representative of growing up before smartphones and social media became an inseparable part of teenage life. Their adventures eventually bring them into the orbit of Diane, a mysterious woman whose past becomes connected to the girls’ summer.

For me, the strongest aspect of That One Summer is its coming-of-age drama. The film captures the innocence and energy of being young during summer vacation particularly well. There is a natural charm to watching these girls move between outdoor adventures, arcade games, friendship problems, encounters with bullies, and investigations that initially carry the playful seriousness only children can give to a mystery. To an adult, some of their plans and meetings might appear silly, but to them, every little problem feels important and every adventure feels enormous. The movie understands that perspective well.

More importantly, Alex, Melissa, and Jackie aren’t treated simply as a collective group of young protagonists. Each girl has her own struggles, allowing their friendship to feel more genuine. Their individual experiences gradually feed into the film’s larger themes of growing up, becoming stronger, and confronting situations that force them to see life differently. By the end of this particular summer, they have experienced fear, excitement, emotional pain, and growth, while one of them also finds a meaningful degree of closure.

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I particularly enjoyed the family dynamics throughout the film. The individual conversations that the three girls have with their parents are among the better-written dramatic moments in the story. These interactions give us a stronger understanding of the girls beyond their adventures together and add emotional weight to their respective character arcs. The parents aren’t merely background figures placed around the teenage protagonists; their conversations contribute meaningfully to the story and reinforce the idea that growing up involves gradually understanding your family, your friends, and yourself in more complicated ways.

The three young leads are equally impressive. Marae Allen holds the central role of Alex together very well, particularly when the film requires her to handle its more emotional material. She gives the character enough vulnerability and personality to make her journey easy to invest in. Kalani Jules brings plenty of confidence and charm to Melissa, the sassier member of the group, and her personality adds considerable energy to their friendship dynamic. Azuri Hardy-Jones is also very good as Jackie, the nerdier and more frequently bullied member of the group. Jackie receives one of the film’s more satisfying character arcs, and Hardy-Jones handles that arc effectively.

Where the film didn’t work quite as strongly for me was the mystery and thriller storyline involving Catherine Stinger’s Diane. The character herself presents an interesting opportunity to contrast the girls’ youthful innocence with a much darker adult reality, and the mystery surrounding her provides the film with an intriguing secondary dimension. However, as the story moves into its third act and begins revealing more about Diane, I felt the execution lacked some of the impact that the buildup deserved.

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This is particularly noticeable during the climax. The ingredients for a sharper and more emotionally powerful conclusion are present, but the mystery could have been developed and resolved with greater tension and precision. A slightly tighter final act, stronger escalation, and a more impactful handling of the revelations surrounding Diane could have elevated the thriller component considerably. The coming-of-age material has genuine warmth behind it, so I wished the darker side of the story had reached a similarly strong finish.

Even so, That One Summer works well where it matters most: as a story about friendship and a formative period in the lives of three young girls. Aaron Stylez and the writing team of Jordan Cann, Stylez, and Lenise Williams understand the emotional importance that one particular summer can have when looking back at childhood. The arcade games, silly plans, bullying, rebellious moments, family conversations, fear, friendship, and unexpected adventures collectively create the feeling of a memory that these characters will carry into adulthood. The film also boasts a fantastic soundtrack, packed with peppy beats that perfectly complement its energetic vibe.

Overall, That One Summer is a warm and enjoyable coming-of-age drama strengthened by its three young leads, well-written family interactions, and affectionate recreation of teenage life in the 90s. While the mystery surrounding Diane and its climactic resolution could have been executed with greater tension and impact, the friendship at the center of the movie remains engaging throughout. It is ultimately a story about one unforgettable summer, one that was fun, frightening, emotional, and transformative, and the film captures the bittersweet feeling of looking back at the moment when childhood began giving way to something more complicated. You can now rent and stream ‘That One Summer (2026)’ on Tubi and follow the movie on Instagram for more updates.