Honestly, most "coming-of-age" movies from the early 2010s haven't aged well. They feel too polished, too scripted, or just plain fake. But the That’s What I Am film is different. It’s messy. It’s quiet. It takes place in California in the mid-sixties, but the stuff it talks about—bullying, rumors, and the courage it takes to just be a decent human being—feels like it could have happened yesterday.
It’s one of those rare movies that didn't break the box office but somehow broke your heart instead.
If you haven’t seen it, the story follows Andy Nichol, played by Chase Ellison. He’s a bright, mostly "normal" kid who gets paired up for a school project with the school’s biggest outcast, Stanley "Big G" Minor. Stanley is tall. He has bright orange hair. His ears are, well, prominent. And he’s the target of every cruel joke in the hallway. But the movie isn’t just about a project. It’s about Mr. Simon, the teacher everyone loves, and the ugly rumor that threatens to destroy his career.
The Weird Magic of the That’s What I Am Film
There is something deeply uncomfortable about watching this movie. You’ve probably been there. You remember that specific brand of middle school anxiety where standing next to the "unpopular" kid felt like social suicide. That’s what I am film captures that perfectly. It doesn't use Hollywood filters. It just lets the awkwardness sit there on the screen until you’re forced to deal with it.
Ed Harris plays Mr. Simon. He’s incredible. Seriously. He brings this gravitas to the role of a teacher that makes you wish you’d had someone like him in eighth grade. He’s the one who tells Andy, "Evolution is a slow process." He’s not talking about monkeys turning into humans. He’s talking about us. People. How long it takes for us to stop being mean just because it's easy.
The film was written and directed by Michael Pavone. Interestingly, it was produced by WWE Studios. Yes, the wrestling people. This was back when they were trying to branch out into serious drama, and while it might seem like a weird fit, it actually worked. They even put Randy Orton in it. He plays Ed Freel, the narrow-minded father of the school bully. Orton is surprisingly good at playing a guy you want to jump through the screen and argue with. He represents that era's specific type of rigid, "don't-rock-the-boat" prejudice.
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Why Big G is the Hero We Didn't Know We Needed
Stanley "Big G" Minor, played by Alexander Walters, is the soul of the movie.
Most movies would have Big G go through a "She’s All That" transformation. You know the trope. He’d get a haircut, lose the glasses, and suddenly everyone realizes he’s a model. That doesn’t happen here. Stanley stays Stanley. He is comfortable in his own skin even when the world is screaming at him that he shouldn't be. That is the real power of the That’s What I Am film. It’s not about changing to fit in; it’s about being so solid in who you are that the world has to change around you.
The "That’s What I Am" title comes from a poem Stanley writes. It’s a simple, rhythmic declaration of self. No apologies. No hiding. In a world of 2026 social media where everyone is curated and filtered, there’s something raw and necessary about a kid in 1965 saying, "This is me."
The Controversy That Feels Too Real
The secondary plot is actually the more devastating one. It involves a rumor that Mr. Simon is gay. In 1965, that wasn't just a piece of gossip—it was a career-ender.
The school administration’s reaction is painful to watch. They don’t care if it’s true. They care about the optics. They care about the angry parents. This reflects a very real history of how educators were treated during the mid-20th century. Look at the real-world history of the "Lavender Scare" or similar purges in the American education system. This movie doesn't shy away from the fact that sometimes, the "bad guys" win in the short term.
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It makes you think about how we handle "cancel culture" today. The methods have changed. The technology has changed. But the human impulse to tear down someone who is "different" or "suspicious" hasn't shifted an inch.
Breaking Down the Cast and Their Impact
- Ed Harris: He’s the anchor. Without his performance, the movie could have felt like a "Special After-School Movie." He makes it feel like literature.
- Chase Ellison: As Andy, he represents us. He’s the person who knows what’s right but is scared to do it. His journey from being embarrassed to be seen with Stanley to standing up for him is the movie's moral spine.
- Amy Madigan: Playing Principal Higgins, she shows the "banality of evil"—or at least the banality of cowardice. She’s not a monster, but she’s a bureaucrat.
- Randy Orton: He’s the physical manifestation of the era's intolerance. He’s terrifying because he thinks he’s the "good guy" protecting his son.
The movie also features a young Mia Rose Frampton as Mary Clear. Her character’s subplot about first love and the fallout of rumors among girls provides a necessary parallel to the main conflict. It shows that prejudice and cruelty aren't just "guy things"—they permeate the entire social structure of the school.
Technical Craft and the 1960s Vibe
The cinematography isn't flashy. It’s warm. It feels like an old photo album you found in your grandmother’s attic. The costume design is spot on without being "costumey." They didn't go for the stereotypical "hippie" 60s look because, in 1965, most of America still looked like the 50s. The soundtrack is subtle but effective. It lets the dialogue do the heavy lifting.
One of the most striking scenes is the talent show. No spoilers, but the way it’s shot—the lighting, the silence of the crowd—is masterclass level. It’s the moment where the theme of the That’s What I Am film finally crystallizes. You realize that "tolerance" isn't just about being nice. It's about having the guts to clap when no one else is.
Addressing the Critics
Not everyone loved this film when it came out. Some critics called it "saccharine" or "overly sentimental."
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I disagree.
I think we’ve become so cynical that when a movie actually tries to have a moral compass, we label it as "cheesy." Life is sentimental. Growing up is emotional. To pretend otherwise is just lying. The movie acknowledges that things don't always end with a perfect bow. People lose jobs. People move away. Bullies don't always get their comeuppance in a dramatic fight. Sometimes, they just stay bullies. That’s the reality the film chooses to reflect.
Practical Takeaways from That’s What I Am
If you're watching this for the first time or revisiting it, there are things to actually take away. It’s not just "content" to consume.
- Check your own "bystander" habits. We all do it. We see someone being treated poorly and we stay quiet because we don't want the target on our back. Andy’s struggle is a mirror.
- Understand the weight of words. The rumor about Mr. Simon shows how a single sentence can destroy a life. In the age of instant sharing, this is more relevant than ever.
- Appreciate the teachers. The film is a love letter to the educators who see more in us than we see in ourselves.
- Embrace the "Big G" energy. If you’re the different one, stop trying to fix it. The things that make you "weird" are usually the things that make you indispensable.
Next Steps for Fans
If you enjoyed the That’s What I Am film, you should look into the history of the 1960s California school system to see just how accurate the social pressures were. Also, check out other Ed Harris dramas like Radio or The Truman Show to see how he consistently plays characters who challenge the status quo.
The most important thing you can do after watching is to look at your own social circles. Are you an Andy? Are you a Stanley? Or are you the one holding the camera, watching it all happen? The movie doesn't give you the answers. It just makes you ask the questions.
Go watch it. Bring tissues. You'll need them.