A & E

“Flipped” Perspectives Always Make the Best Love Stories

Free seats in movie theater photo, public domain leisure CC0 image.

Lissette Tenesaca
June 1, 2023

Flipped captures the essence of innocence, heartbreak, and forgiving nature of first love within
the amazing story of main love interests, Bryce Loski (Callan McAuliffe) and Julie Baker (Madeline
Carroll).

Flipped follows Julie Baker and her lifelong crush Bryce Loski, two tweens who couldn’t have
been farther apart even though they lived right across the street from each other. Julie had been head
over heels for Bryce since they had met as children, much to his discouragement, and as they grew, Bryce
kept as far from her as possible and even became somewhat mean in attempts to cut off her affection.
The two reach junior high and with the encouragement of his friends, Bryce goes after another girl who
he knows Julie doesn’t like as an attempt for distance.

The movie goes on to show a pivotal moment of Julie’s favorite sycamore tree getting cut down
after begging Bryce to help her protect it. This lands her in the town paper bringing their families to
slowly interact more, letting Bryce’s grandfather become friends with Julie as she reminds him of his late
wife. As Julie begins to give up on Bryce, He begins to see her in a new light despite the protest of his
friends.

He eventually goes multiple things to hurt her like not standing up for her family, attempting to
kiss her in front of their school, and throw away a gift she gave him, leading to her completely
ignoring him until one day, unbeknownst to her, he shows up at her house and plants her a new tree.
The movie ends with her helping him plant the tree and the audience can clearly see that they have
reconciled.

The movie shows how paying attention can really matter. Bryce knew how much Julie had loved
that tree no matter how much he had not liked her before and planted her a new tree in an attempt to
make up for his past mistakes and as Bryce founds out more about Julies’ family along with her uncle
being sick, he realizes he had been so set against Julie and her family because his father had been.

Flipped does not make the plot easy instead unlike many movies where Bryce would have suddenly
decided to like Julie and them be together. The plot allows growth for both of them individually and
includes a conflict to show that love is not always smooth sailing and how even people you love can hurt
your feelings and need to make it up instead of expecting forgiveness.

A similar move is My Girl in the sense of first, young love. However, while Bryce and Julie were not
close until much later in the movie, Anna and Thomas had been friends since they first spoke and both
relationships ended very differently.

I believe the movie is a great depiction of the complications, bliss, and overwhelming emotion
that come with young love. It allows watchers to see any and all emotions in different characters and
situations.

Flipped is an amazing ode to first love at such a young age and how different things can be if
you just flip your perspective.