Geography Club Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A bunch of teens pretend to like geography to hide the fact they’re dealing with high school drama and accidentally discover themselves in the process.

🍿 Geography Club: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Russell’s Secret and Kevin’s Closet

Russell Middlebrook navigates his senior year at Goodkind High, feeling pressured by his father’s expectations. He secretly explores his sexuality, believing he might be gay. An anonymous online chat leads to a connection with a classmate, Kevin Land, a star football player who is also closeted. Kevin wants a relationship but insists on keeping it secret, despite Russell learning that Kevin’s parents would likely be supportive.

The Geography Club and Growing Pains

When Min catches Russell and Kevin together, they fear blackmail. Instead, Min introduces them to the school’s ‘Geography Club,’ a front for a support group for LGBTQ+ students. Russell joins the club, finding a community. His attempts to hide his homosexuality are complicated when he agrees to help his friend Gunnar by dating Trish, a girl who is eager to be intimate.

Bullying and Social Pressure

The Geography Club faces internal conflicts about inclusivity and becoming an official school club, which would force members to come out. Russell struggles with balancing his relationship with Kevin, hiding his true self, and dealing with the social pressures of high school. The consequences of staying in the closet versus being true to oneself become increasingly apparent.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Russell Middlebrook (Cameron Deane Stewart): A closeted gay high school student struggling with his identity and societal expectations while navigating first love.
• Kevin Land (Justin Deeley): A closeted star football player who wants to keep his sexuality a secret to protect his athletic future.
• Min (Ally Maki): An openly lesbian student who encourages others to embrace their identities by creating the Geography Club.
• Gunnar (Andrew Lewis Caldwell): Russell’s awkward and oblivious best friend who is unaware of Russell’s true feelings and sexuality.
• Trish (Meaghan Martin): A seemingly innocent girl who becomes involved in Russell’s charade to maintain appearances.
• Brian Bund (Teo Olivares): A bullied student who seeks friendship and acceptance, highlighting the challenges faced by marginalized teens.
• Ike (Alex Newell): A student unsure of his sexuality who finds community and support within the Geography Club.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Russell: “What am I looking for?” – This is the opening line and captures Russell’s journey of self-discovery and identity.
• Min: “It’s a Geography Club. Nobody else in their right minds would ever join a club that sounds so boring.” – Min explains the purpose and secrecy behind the Geography Club to Russell and Kevin.
• Brian Bund: “I don’t wanna go home after school. I’m scared of it, actually.” – Brian reveals why he wants to join the club, highlighting his difficult home life and need for acceptance.
• Russell: “I’m tired of lying to everyone.” – Russell expresses his desire to come out and be true to himself, showing his growing frustration with hiding his identity.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $6,400,000
• Domestic Gross: Unknown
• Worldwide Gross: Unknown

💥 Geography Club Reviews

Personal Review

I really enjoyed watching ‘Geography Club’. It reminded me of my own high school experience, trying to figure out who I was and where I belonged. The scene where Brian plays his cello in the empty classroom really hit me hard – it perfectly captured the feeling of isolation and the search for solace. The humor was also on point, making it a feel-good movie with a strong message. I wish there were more movies like this when I was growing up.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Teenagers”
  • “Young adults”
  • “Fans of coming-of-age stories”
  • “Viewers interested in LGBTQ+ themes”
  • “Fans of the book by Brent Hartinger”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Bullying”
  • “Homophobia”
  • “Mild language”
  • “Brief sexual references”

Professional Reviews

• Indiewire: “While technically sound for its budget, ‘Geography Club’ suffers from shallow character development. It feels more like a PSA than a movie, needing a better director to compellingly tell the story. The earnest intentions are there, but the execution falls short, making it feel dated despite the relevant themes.
• City of Films: “Geography Club is an exceptionally motivated film. The performances from it’s cast are exceptional, and I feel inclined to note in particular Ted Ovilares whose incredible and heartbreaking portrayal of Brian Bund was perfect, and Cameron Deane Stewart who played a very identifiable and relatable Russell Middlebrook.

Audience Reactions

The movie is a great reminder that being yourself is more important than fitting in.: Viewers praised the film for its relatable characters and honest portrayal of teen struggles with identity and acceptance.

Many found Brian’s character and his struggles incredibly moving and relatable.: The film’s balance of humor and heartfelt moments resonated strongly with audiences.

Overall Consensus: Geography Club is a heartwarming and relatable teen drama that tackles important themes of identity and acceptance, though some find the character development lacking.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Brent Hartinger, which is the first book in a series of novels centered around the same characters.”
• “Filming took place in various locations in Los Angeles, California, including actual high school campuses and residential areas to create a realistic setting.”
• “The filmmakers aimed to create an authentic representation of the challenges and experiences faced by LGBTQ+ teens in high school, working with LGBTQ+ organizations to ensure accuracy and sensitivity.”

🖥️ How to Watch Geography Club?

Currently, “Geography Club” is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check these services for current pricing and availability in your region. Subscription services do not currently offer this movie.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Geography Club, you might like these similar films:

• Love, Simon (2018): Similar coming-of-age story about a gay teenager struggling with coming out in high school.
• The Way He Looks (2014): A Brazilian film focusing on a blind teenager’s journey of self-discovery and first love with a new student.
• Edge of Seventeen (2016): Another coming-of-age story that deals with teen awkwardness and self-discovery, although with a heterosexual protagonist, it captures similar feelings of being an outsider.
• But I’m a Cheerleader (1999): A satirical comedy about a young woman sent to a conversion camp after her parents suspect she is a lesbian, dealing with themes of identity and acceptance with humor.

🛒 Geography Club Related Products

• Geography Club (Brent Hartinger) – Kindle Edition: Dive deeper into the story with the original novel that inspired the movie. Explore the full character arcs and nuanced relationships only hinted at in the film.
• Geography Club DVD: Own a piece of this inspiring coming-of-age story with the official Geography Club DVD, allowing you to watch over and over again.
• Geography Club Inspired T-Shirt: Show your support for the film with a Geography Club inspired shirt

🎧 Soundtrack

Geography Club features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Big Confession” – performed by 16 Frames

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Cameron Deane Stewart on the set of Geography Club

Ever wondered what it’s like on the set of Geography Club? Cameron Deane Stewart gives us a peek! It’s super interesting to see how they bring the story to life – definitely worth a watch if you’re a fan of the movie.

“Geography Club” Gay Ultimatum – Dramatic

Check out this dramatic recreation of the “Gay Ultimatum” scene from Geography Club! It’s a really interesting take on a powerful moment, and honestly, it gives me a whole new appreciation for the actors original performance.

✨ Rate