Based on the novel written by Becky Albertalli, “Love, Simon” follows 17-year-old Simon Spier as he tries to discover the identity of his anonymous classmate, Blue, who he’s fallen in love with online. The only thing standing in his way (besides the fact that Blue isn’t ready to be found) is his determination to keep his big secret, the one thing that makes him “different” than everyone else: He’s gay.

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Despite how I couldn’t open snapchat without “Love, Simon” movie trailers, cast interviews and ads being thrown in my face, I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this movie. I’d never read the book and only heard of it a few times before (and not in great detail.) All I knew was that it was supposed to be a funny and cute love story about two closeted gay teens.

But, other than those small plot details, I knew that this movie was a first of its kind, that it was marking a big step for the LGBT community, and that “Love, Simon” had a lot to live up to.

I also learned, when I got to the movie theater for the Friday 5:20 pm showing and all the seats except a few in the front row were filled, that a lot of people were excited for it.

So, after having to wait three hours longer than previously intended to see the movie — a wait that consisted of cold McDonald’s chicken nuggets in the parking lot of Target and Mario Cart in the video game section of said store while a thunderstorm of hail, rain, and flooding streets raged on outside, I was in an especially critical mood.

But the rom-com, directed by acclaimed television director Greg Berlanti, was everything it needed and promised to be. Described by some critics as “ground-breaking” and “charming,” the movie proves to be just that–in its own way.

Mainly because it is exceedingly ordinary.

The movie had all the usual high-school romance film clichés: the parties, the football games, the principal trying way too hard to be cool, the secret crushes. But the movie held onto those clichés without making the film itself cliché. It wasn’t over dramatic, despite a few sad parts of the story, and there was no random and unneeded tragedy. It was just a hilarious, sweet, and ordinary love story.

The opening line of the movie speaks for and sends a message that I’m sure a lot of the LGBT community wishes to share:  “My name’s Simon and I’m just like you.”

And the movie definitely shows that.