Lemonade Blessing Review: Arduous Adolescence

Lemonade Blessing is an impressive feature debut from Chris Merola that demonstrates how our parents’ expectations can shape our identity.

Adolescence can be a challenging time in someone’s life, especially when starting a new school and trying to fit in. As for our leading man, John (Jake Ryan), his home life also comes with a set of challenges. Because his parents are divorced, he lives with his super-religious, strict mother. Although she means well, the life she expects her son to live is one he doesn’t feel completely satisfied with. On the contrary, John’s father, who was unfaithful to his mother, has no room for religion in his life. He also shows very little interest in his son. When John visits, his father is more concerned with playing computer games and relaxing than making him feel seen and heard.

Shortly after starting at his new school, John falls for his classmate, Lilith (Skye Alyssa Friedman). Though his feelings are entirely genuine, the intentions of the girl he’s crushing on seem more questionable. After all, Lilith only agrees to see him if he does outrageous dares for her own entertainment. Lilith’s requests become increasingly bizarre over time, testing not only John’s patience but also his morals. John finds himself in a similar position with other students he wishes to befriend. Take, for example, Angelo (Miles J. Harvey), who openly talks about sexual adult content he finds online at any chance he can get. At the same time, John reluctantly agrees with all the crude comments his classmate makes about said content in an attempt to blend in.

Even if you haven’t experienced exactly what John goes through in Lemonade Blessing, the film is still extremely relatable. Some of us may have been in a position at some point during our lives where we were hiding our true selves. Perhaps this occurred trying to impress a crush, or maybe it was during our teenage years when we wanted to fit in with the popular kids at school. Others may have pursued certain career paths or committed to specific life choices to appease their parents when, in reality, these weren’t choices they would have made on their own accord.

At its core, Lemonde Blessing is a coming-of-age sex comedy. It’s also a compelling drama of self-discovery that we experience alongside John. Even though he makes some bad decisions along the way, viewers will develop a great sense of empathy for him due to his upbringing and his fear of saying no, stemming from a fear of judgment and rejection. Though Lemonade Blessing may be raunchy, at no point does Merola’s film ever feel tacky. Instead, through the subject matter explored, the narrative demonstrates the impacts of societal pressure and online culture, how they influence what someone considers acceptable, and how perceived gender roles don’t fit us into a predictable box.

Ryan shines as John, grounding the character in an endearing and relatable way. Our lead is a multifaceted individual, yet the actor balances the approval-seeking side of his personality while also demonstrating his desire to express himself honestly and freely without disappointing those around him. John’s behavior also reflects the nerdy, awkward phase of adolescence. Ryan’s incredible performance is a key factor in the film’s impact.

Another aspect of the movie that stands out is Merola’s creation of such a realistic environment. According to the press notes, the writer, director, and producer utilized their game consoles and props in the movie. In fact, the home where John and his mother live is the house Merola grew up in as a child. These personal touches add a layer of emotional depth to Lemonade Blessing, as well as familiarity and authenticity to the feature. This allows viewers to connect with it more on a deeper level. John’s personal space feels more like a lived-in family home than a film set. 

Lemonade Blessing is a powerful, unfiltered, and realistic portrayal of what people are willing to accept to fit in. The story also highlights how a people-pleasing mentality can be a learned coping mechanism shaped during childhood when our parents set expectations for us and our future. Ultimately, the film teaches us that once we embrace who we truly are and stop living for others, we’ll be much happier.

Lemonade Blessing had its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 5, 2025 and will be screened again on June 6-15.