Best Summer Ever 2021

The film opens with Tony Michaels, an ambitious dancer, diligently preparing for a routine at Lakeview Dance Camp. As the camp season draws to a close, he and his girlfriend, Sage, share a heartfelt goodbye. She gifts him sunflower seeds to plant in a meaningful spot, while he gives her an eagle necklace to remember him by. However, Tony is also a high school football player grappling with the weight of expectations from his coach, who serves as a father figure to him, and the entire school, as they look forward to a Homecoming game that he feels compelled to win. On the other side, Sage balances her nomadic life with her two mothers, Kate and Gillian, who run a medicinal marijuana business. Tony finds solace in planting his seeds at a memorial for his deceased parents, trying to honor their memory.

Sage dreams of a stable home life. When her family’s trailer breaks down while searching for a new location to sell marijuana, she seizes the opportunity to attend Mount Abe High School. Upon her arrival, she meets Nancy, an upbeat cheerleader who quickly becomes her friend. But trouble looms as Beth, the scheming cheer captain, learns of Sage’s presence. After unsuccessfully trying to woo Tony to be her Homecoming King, Beth resorts to taunting Sage about her Vermont roots. Sage, proud of her summer moments with Tony, shares their stories with Nancy and the other girls. Conversely, Tony confides in his jock friends about his special time with Sage.

Fuelled by jealousy and determination, Beth concocts a scheme to come between the lovebirds. She maliciously injures Nancy by fracturing her arm, then deceives Sage into believing Nancy was fatally hurt in an accident, aiming to usurp Nancy’s place at the cheerleading pep rally. Meanwhile, Cody, the rival quarterback resentful of Tony for overtaking him in football, seizes Tony’s phone and hands it over to Beth.

At the pep rally, the stage is set for disgrace as Beth humiliates Sage publicly. As tension rises, Sage is caught off-guard when she learns that Tony is not just a dancer but the star football player. Outside, Beth threatens to expose Tony’s dancing videos if he doesn’t conform to her demands for Homecoming. With a heavy heart, Tony admits to Sage that he had hidden his true identity in order to cope with the pressures of his reputation and that he is determined to win the elusive Homecoming crown, which hasn’t been achieved in twenty-five years. Heartbroken, Sage tries to escape the turmoil, pretending to be sick to avoid school. However, her mother, Kate, eventually persuades her to return.

Hoping for redemption, Tony seeks another chance with Sage, inviting her to the tool shed in his backyard. He shares the importance of his coach in his life, revealing that post his parents’ passing, his coach has become like family to him. Subsequently, Sage, revealing her unique family dynamics, discusses their illegal activities in the drug trade and her dream of living lawfully, all while showcasing her vibrant flower garden to Tony. As Homecoming approaches, while Sage prepares him for the dance, Tony gears up to lead his team in the vital football match. However, Beth intensifies her disapproval and, with the help of Cody, learns about the marijuana crops Sage’s family tends.

At school, the tension escalates as Coach retrieves Tony’s phone after catching him gazing at Sage’s video. Reminding him of his obligations, he emphasizes the necessity of winning Homecoming. Later that night, Tony suggests they run away together, intensifying their connection. However, the next morning, Beth employs underhanded tactics by threatening to reveal Sage’s family’s drug dealings to the police unless Tony complies with her plans.

Determined not to betray Sage, Tony reluctantly agrees with Beth’s schemes. When Coach discovers Tony’s summer escapade at Lakeview, a confrontation ensues, revealing the mounting pressure Tony faces from his coach. Frustrated, Tony storms off, only to realize Sage had destroyed her garden, which sparks an idea of his own.

On Homecoming Day, Sage retaliates against Beth by throwing her phone in the toilet. Meanwhile, as Officer Gorinsky investigates Sage’s family’s marijuana operation, Tony cleverly replaces the illicit plants with sunflowers from his parents’ memorial, leaving two to honor them. Elsewhere, as Coach views heartwarming footage of a young Tony celebrating his late mother’s birthday, the pieces begins to align for an uplifting conclusion.

Finally, when the Homecoming game dawns, Tony and Sage reunite, ready to face the challenges ahead. Just as it seems the Mount Abe Eagles are on the brink of defeat, Tony arrives just in time to showcase the dance he perfected with Sage. This moment heals their relationship with Coach, allowing them to seize victory amidst the celebration of their high school triumph at Homecoming, marking the beginning of a new journey for both Tony and Sage.