NAOMI’S AND ELY’S NO KISS LIST

US, 2014, 89 minutes, Colour.
Victoria Justice, Pearson Fode, Matthew Daddario, Ryan Ward, Griffin Newman, Monique Coleman, Danny Flaherty, Maddie Corman.
Directed by Kristin Hanggi.

This is a New York serious comedy about two young adults in New York City. They have been friends since childhood. They are played by Victoria justice, well-known from television as is Pearson Fode as Ely.

The two had prepared from their childhood a Kiss List, noting people that they did not want to have a relationship with. After leaving school, Ely comes out and is dating boys. While Naomi realises this, he is still her best friend, always confiding in him. She does try some of the dates, especially a young man who encounters Ely and they begin a relationship. Naomi attracts the attention of the young man near the apartment block where she lives as well as the doorman.

Here are two young adults adrift in New York, though Ely having more groundedness than Naomi. She remarks at one stage that they are young New Yorkers and don’t believe in anything. Will they by the end of the film – and afterwards?

1. The title? The two characters? A relationship? Issues of romance?

2. A film for young adults and teenage audiences, critics negative, family audiences positive? Dramatising issues for teenagers for discussion? American teenagers? Worldwide or not?

3. New York City, around Washington Square? Apartments, college, the streets, diners, clubs…? The musical score?

4. The story from Naomi’s point of view, her voice-over, her interpretation of her own experiences, of the lies?

5. Naomi’s comment about being 21st-century New York types, not believing in anything? The issue of moral behaviour, moral anchors, moral decisions?

6. Naomi, her age, her father walking out, her mother’s condition, behaviour in the apartment, Naomi caring for her, arguing with her? The long friendship with Eli, as children, as neighbours, sharing, interests? Going through school? College? Her behaviour in the class, the lecturer calling her out, the repetition at the end and her leaving to reconcile with Eli? Her friendship with Robin? At the library, setting up with the other Robin? Doing makeovers for her?

7. Ely, the long friendship with Naomi? His interests, tastes? His being gay? His parents, his mother’s affair, the gay marriage, the household? His being out, interest in boys, seeking out the company, comfortable?

8. Naomi and Eli his being gay, her knowing this but not accepting it?

9. Naomi attractive, Bruce I, memories of the past, the kisses, his always hanging about? The young boy in the foyer? Gabriel, his work is the doorman, playing in the band, the attraction to Naomi? Bruce II, at college, the dating, in his room, the sexual encounter, interrupted?

10. Eli, the encounter with Bruce, the attraction, the discussions, the kiss? The later meetings, Bruce coming out to his mother and her reaction? His hiding in Eli’s room? Bruce I spilling the news? Naomi and her reaction?

11. Naomi, upset, the attack on Eli, her confiding in Robin?

12. Halloween, clothes, picking out, dressing up, going out?

13. Naomi, dealing with her mother, facing the reality, having to face the reality about Eli? (And the lectures about Freud and the unconscious?) Her coming to her senses, arranging the meeting with Eli, the reconciliation?

14. 21st-century issues and relationships for teenagers?