American Summer Review – Sentimental, Family Friendly, An Entertaining Home Run

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Category: Haute This Issue

Published on Monday, 31 August 2026 13:39

Written by Janet Walker

American Summer, from Blue Harbor Entertainment, brings to the screen a nostalgic look at small town America, five friends and the one summer that became the catalyst for yet discovered futures, and becomes that summer to remember.

The film begins with Mike, played by Steve Guttenberg, sitting on the porch of a well-kept two story home, and in the chair beside him, a creation urn. As he begins to tell a story, one that most adults can remember, that one summer, the summer between middle school and high school, when riding bikes in the neighborhood was cool, and summer was really the time of total abandonment to the whim and will of the winds.

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As adult Mike begins to polish his catcher's glover the film fades into that summer, and Mikey, now 14, tall, handsome, and when hanging with the gang of friends meant telling fart jokes and playing baseball. It was the one baseball field in town that no one knew about, parents didn't known and usually, no one wanted to play on it because it was secluded, no benches and no fans for the older boys to try to impress.

So as Paulie, played by  CJ Thomas, steps up to the plate, he explains he is going to hit the ball out of the park. And he does. Our group is still distracted easily, as it is summer, and since the ball rolled into the bushes it seemed, as the imagination took over, that hidden treasure could also be hiding in the bushes.

Of course, this sidetrack does result in a loss of the field, as the older boys, led by Buck, played by Maximus Virgili, show up, and demand they forfeit the right to play on Field X.

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As the boys are playing video games, and hanging out, the movie returns to present day, when name explains the importance of grandparents. Returning to that summer, Mikey returns home, to see two men, who look like military, leaving. His mom, Erica, played by Erinn Ruth, explains that his dad, played by Stephen Krahel, who is overseas in active duty, is still missing. This is when we meet grandpa, played by Dan Lauria, who steps up to the plate to help out around the house while they wait for news.

We also find out that baseball is more than a summer game, for Mikey, and he is determined to make the travel team.  As he become more dedicated his grandpa begins to help coach him, and we find out that back in the day, grandpa was quite a good hitter.

Even with their dad missing in action, for Mikey, the idea of his dad dying wasn't even a possibility, and for him, this was the summer, his summer, the summer of baseball, the travel team, and of course, girls.

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We meet Kelly, played by Mia Talerico, at a local backyard barbeque, where the younger, before 15, boys gathered, and the older (after 15) boys each grouped together, and the girls gathered together, neither able to muster up the courage to speak. With his friends urging him on, Mikey makes the very smooth play of meeting name at the cooler, stumbling over beginnings, and finally uttering something coherent.

As summer wears on, the next neighborhood gathering brings together everyone, and soon, name and name, are past the uneasiness. When the bully shows up and attempts to take control, our girl leaves him and runs back.

Just when it seems like summer is on the right track, one foul play and Mikey is out for the summer. Disobeying a direct order from his mom get him grounded, nothing, no baseball, no friends, nothing.

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This ushers in the final act, and as this is the summer to remember, one can imagine that this summer of memories will play out perfectly. However, the question remains, throughout the film, are we listening to a story of remorse, has Mikey, who is grown, married, and lived a long, and obviously happy life, telling his story with his beloved wife, beside him?

As the sunset on our great American summer, we return to the future, where Mikey, finally fills us in on the rest of story. One teaser, of course, is that supermodel Christie Brinkley is featured in the film.

American Summer is a lighthearted, entertaining film with enough wistful longing to carry the adults and plenty of teenaged connection, making this a family friendly, fun-filled, amusing, film.

The ensemble cast, led by intermittent narrator Steve Guttenberg, captures the emotions and delivers enjoyable, charming, and engaging performances.

With plenty of teenage humor, and fond adult reflection, American Summer opens exclusively in select theaters September 4, 2026. See it.

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Country: U.S.

Language: English.

Runtime: 83 minutes.

Release Date: September 4, 2026.

Director: Michael W. Grey.

Producer: Michael W. Gray, Michael Cuomo, Ann M. Gray.

Executive Producer: Stephen Krahel.

Writers: Michael W. Gray, Jennifer B. White, Marc Prey.

Cast: Steve Guttenberg, Dan Lauria, Mia Talerico, Cullen Moss, Christie Brinkley, Kobi Frumer, Erinn Ruth, Maximus Virgili, Logan Gray, Max Malas, Ellen Toland, Josh Folan, Callie Reese, Stephen Krahel, Max Zimmer, Michael Cuomo, Cash Chisum, Jaba Keh, Jayne Violet Korik, Charlotte Pearson, Anita Covic, Lee Mazzilli, Connor Strycharz, Chance Stout, CJ Thomas.

Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade.  A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Under the banner of her production company, HL Productions, LLC, Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," and "Days, Times, Seasons, and Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a member of the International Federation of Journalists.