Hollywood's tried to fuse sex and sincerity before—but rarely with a mascot, a stripper named Santa Monica, and Chloe Fineman dry-humping a dance pole in a public library.
Hulu's Summer of 69, from first-time feature director Jillian Bell, is the kind of trailer that makes you wonder: Is this an outrageous high school sex comedy—or a stealth emotional drama in a tube top?
At face value, the premise is textbook raunch: awkward teen Abby (Fineman) gets a crash course in sexual confidence to seduce her longtime crush in the final week of school. Her weapon of choice? The infamously misunderstood sexual position that gave the film its title and raised more than a few eyebrows at SXSW.
But this isn't just another American Pie knockoff. The trailer hints at something more layered. Abby's journey veers into territory that feels more Lady Bird than Porky's—where the stripper becomes a stand-in for the big sister she never had, and dance lessons lead to unexpected self-respect.
Sex comedies are a dime a dozen—but ones that center female desire without turning it into either a punchline or a morality tale? That's still rare. Compare this with Netflix's Sex Education (2019–2023), which deconstructed teen lust with British wit and emotional honesty. Or Olivia Wilde's Booksmart (2019), which gave two academically obsessed girls a last-hurrah night of chaos and growth.
What Summer of 69 appears to do differently is aim its awkward spotlight on the intersection of sexual exploration and body insecurity. Abby isn't hyper-sexualized—she's a gamer, a dreamer, a hot mess in a hoodie. And that's where Bell may be playing a longer game: using the promise of shock comedy to Trojan-horse a Gen Z spin on self-discovery.
Chloe Fineman's casting is a curveball—best known for her chameleonic SNL impressions, she now has to carry a role that demands both slapstick and subtlety. And if the trailer's final scene—a deadpan dance sequence in front of confused library patrons—is any clue, she might just pull it off.
Will Summer of 69 be Hulu's answer to Superbad for the TikTok generation—or just another overpromised, undercooked sex comedy? We'll find out May 9th.
Would you let a stripper teach you confidence in front of your high school mascot? Comment below.
