Banana Split

Initially, the story takes us through the relationship between April (Hannah Marks) and Nick (Dylan Sprouse), your typical high-school romance. They get together, it’s hot and heavy for a while, they start fighting everywhere under the stresses of senior year and we watch as the once-scorching flame fizzles out hard by graduation. With college looming and a summer sans boyfriend, April finds herself lamenting over the breakup and missing Nick as she prepares to move to Boston in the fall. Cue in the new woman in Nick’s life…Clara (Liana Liberato), a free spirit who manages to woo April with promises of adventure and cringe-worthy rap sing-a-longs.

As their friendship progresses, the lines become blurred in the thick of it all. Both April and Clara agree that Nick is a persona non grata topic as they continue to hang out, but for how long? And with Nick’s own struggle to get over his ex by getting under Clara, you begin to wonder how long this secret friendship will last before imploding.

While I am sure a good portion of Dylan Sprouse fans are eager to see him front and center on-screen, just know that Nick plays more of a catalyst to the main relationship throughout the movie rather than leading man. Ultimately, it is the friendship between April and Clara that has you wondering “will they, won’t they” as they navigate uncharted waters. Both Marks and Liberato bring their characters to life as complete yet compatible opposites – April as the witty yet gorgeous tomboy against Clara’s girly-girl demeanor. Somehow, it works for them.

And just as significant yet underrated is the relationship between Nick and Nick and April’s mutual ginger best bud, Benjamin (Luke Spencer Roberts). One of my favorite scenes is them during their usual stoner-break at work, which raises some speculation and curiosity as to whether Nick is truly over April as he delves into this new hook-up.

Also a big props to the characters of Susan (Jessica Hecht) and Agnes (Addison Riecke), who play April’s mother and younger sister respectively. While Susan attempts to keep the peace in her home, Agnes continually antagonizes April for the breakup, even claiming that she is ready to swoop in and claim Nick for her own. Mind you, I think the age difference might hinder this goal but Agnes does not disappoint in always knowing how to get under her big sister’s skin.

With director Benjamin Kasulke at the helm, the story crafted by Hannah Marks and Joey Power truly takes flight. You find yourself engaged in the storyline and the direction that the characters are taken in. Cinematographer Darin Moran also manages to capture those perfect angles, making you feel as though you are part of the story and not merely an observer.

While I feel there were other storylines that could have been expanded on just a little more, Banana Split does not disappoint! It’s a little bit of everything with romance, comedy, angsty drama and most importantly friendship. Banana Split is a film that definitely answers the question, Can you be sisters after misters? A must-see to find out.