Ah, it’s another “teen falling in love while dying beautifully” romance. This time around, it’s 18-year-old Katie (Bella Thorne), who suffers from xeroderma pigmentosum: She must remain indoors during the day, behind specially tinted glass, and can go out only at night. Homeschooled by her dad (Rob Riggle), Katie has pined for Charlie (Patrick Schwarzenegger) for years, having watched him walk or skateboard past her house every day of their childhood. Then, on a rare nighttime outing for her, they meet-cute. And summer romance is in the offing. When it isn’t predictably predictable and predictably sappy,
Midnight Sun doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Charlie has absolutely no idea who Katie is; you’d think everyone in town would know about the girl who can’t stand the sun, but he’s oblivious. She keeps putting off telling him, so that she doesn’t become just her condition—which is perfectly understandable, but you know where this is going. Twelve-year-olds will surely find Charlie just as dreamy a fantasy boyfriend as Katie does. Cynical grownups will cringe at the platitudes and the cornball.
By
MaryAnn Johanson