Pools: Odessa A’zion Shines in a Summer Hangout Film with Hidden Depths

Dealing with grief comes in many forms, and it often impacts every aspect of our lives. Losing our loved ones, especially at formative ages, can pose even more challenges during an already difficult world. Pools is the debut feature from writer and director Sam Hayes that is a cozy, warm summer day that slowly pulls you in with a charming lead performance. A coming-of-age film that is equally funny and empathetic, it's the perfect film for the summer. Its silly nature makes it a breezy watch that leans on its somber moments to propel the film along.

It's not hard to instantly fall for the charm of Kennedy (Odessa A’zion), who finds herself using humor and a surface-level carefree attitude to mask the pain of losing her father. Struggling in school and on the brink of losing her scholarships, she is desperate to feel something other than sadness. After a tough conversation with the school's counselor, Miss Louis (Suzanne Cryer), her place in school is at risk.

Kennedy is an intelligent student, but since her father passed, she finds it hard to get to class. In one last hooray, Kennedy decides she wants to find the perfect pool and swim with some friends. The problem is she doesn't have many close friends; since the loss of her father, she has a strained relationship with Delaney (Ariel Winter) and struggles to make friends.

She chooses to invite a few people she has a passing interest in, making sure that Reed (Mason Gooding) gets the booze so their romp through the neighboring home's pools is even more buzzworthy. Kennedy feels a closeness to her father through water, diving deep to the bottom of the pool and staying there for as long as she can.

Hayes frames her grief as something she is avoiding and chooses to be reckless instead of dealing with the loss of her dad. As Kennedy gathers her group of newfound buddies in the courtyard of their forms, cheering with mini bottles of liquor, hoping for a memorable night. And her wish sure comes true, but in ways she wasn't expecting.

Each time this group of teens hops a fence to enter homes to check out their pool setup, the film finds its footing with its lead performance. It's easy to connect with A'Zion; her approach often feels unpredictable, and you never truly know how her character will react to new obstacles placed before her. Balancing her chill humor and soft sadness, there's a wide array of emotions A'Zion brings to the table. Her ability to flip her laid-back manner to her quiet grief at the bottom of the pool is impressive.

As for the supporting cast, there's nothing that really stands out, making some of the somber moments fall flat. There's a lack of connection between the characters that doesn't allow the film's conflicts to stick around long enough to delve into. The film's repairman Michael (Michael Vlamis) has a more prominent role than the other secondary character, and his story line of being a skilled stud does little in progressing the film's pacing.

What makes Pools so attractive are its sun-soaked summer heat visuals. When we first meet Kennedy, her dorm's air conditioning is broken. Immediately the sweltering heat is felt; characters are sweaty, trying to find any sort of relief. The film's snapping editing and warm color grading get the momentum going, adding to the sense of silliness that is often felt from the film's script.

Cinematographer Ben Hardwicke frames each scene well, and his best work is during underwater scenes, capturing Kennedy at her most vulnerable as she seeks a glimpse of her father whose memory is the strongest while below the surface. The blue tones of the water feel like a wave washing over the film, evening out the tone through the film's cooling visuals. Often, the moments in the pools are where smaller moments between characters peek through, with all the complicated feelings of being a teenager struggling through life.

Often the film's script is uneven in tone, making moments that feel like the result would be serious; Hayes injects humor that more so undercuts moments of tension. Kennedy is no doubt a complicated character, but there are moments in her life that aren't explored. Her past relationships, such as the jaded one she has with Delaney, don't feel important to the film's progression because these secondary characters aren't given much of a role.

Other than to be there swimming in the pool with her, their presence in the film often goes unnoticed. Hayes focuses mainly on Kennedy's grief, which consumes her for most of the film; it pulls the film through its less compelling moments, making Pools a coming-of-age film that hits those who have lost someone too soon.

More than worth a watch for A'Zion's star-making performance, this coming-of-age film set in the heat of the summer makes for a fun and reflective experience. Its cozy visuals and snappy humor make Pools the perfect summer hangout film that is a cannonball of fun but offers much more below the surface. Pools is an impressive debut feature from Hayes that gives audiences an exciting look into a director whose unique directing style is felt instantly. A'Zion gives a career-best performance, one that will be reflected on as their career only skyrockets from here.