John is in love with a girl. There’s only one problem. He’s not sure if she loves him back. The countless tasks she gives him to prove his love for her don’t help. Neither does the fact that the two are students in a private (and strict) Catholic school. That is the basic premise of Chris Merola’s sincere, silly and sacrilegious feature directorial debut, Lemonade Blessing. 

 

When we first meet John (Jake Ryan), he’s a child witnessing the separation of his parents in real time. While he’s too young to understand why they are arguing, he recognizes that his mother is in pain. Determined to cheer her up, this moment becomes the origin of his people-pleaser complex. Fast forward to present day, where he is preparing to attend his first day of Catholic high school at the request of his mother - now devout. His relationship with religion may not be as serious as his mother’s but, as any young teen, he’s open and impressionable. He wants to give it a chance - until he meets Lilith (Skye Alyssa Friedman). 

 

In their first brief encounter, Lilith gets John in trouble. Although he initially perceives her as a bully, he finds himself strangely drawn to her - especially after she reveals her parents are also divorced. As quickly as the two meet, they begin dating. And John is happy he has someone who he thinks understands him. However, the more time he spends with Lilith, the more he realizes her affection hinders on him performing acts that go against God. Surprisingly, none are even remotely sexual. 

 

Jake Ryan really comes into his own here as John. Most known for his brief, scene-stealing appearances in films like Inside Llewyn Davis and Eighth Grade, he continues to build on the trajectory established in Asteroid City to become a bona fide leading man here. But even though he’s top-billed this time around, he still operates with the meticulous approach as some of his previous supporting roles. You can see he understands how important all of the cogs in the machine are. That understanding comes across as a form of self-awareness you rarely see in a coming-of-age film. As mentioned before, he wants to do right by everyone. Because he can’t, even brief moments of joy are taken over by the feeling of impending doom. A feeling that only worsens the more he opens himself up to Catholicism and its idea of an all-knowing God.

 

While it is hard to get a read on Lilith, that is also part of the charm Alyssa Skye Friedman brings. You won’t fall in love with character the way John does. However, you’re sure to fall in love with Friedman’s performance. In her first role in a feature film, she devours every scene she’s in. To the point where, at times, you might feel wrong for seeing this story through John’s perspective. That’s not to say she’s a better character. Her moral compass is just so twisted that you can’t help but want to see where it goes - even if it leads you to Hell.

 

One of the film’s only shortcomings, however, is that we don’t get to see why Lilith is the way she is. In a brief, third-act monologue we hear her trying to rationalize it with John. But by that point, she’s also proven how untrustworthy she can be. So why should we believe her?

 

Another is John’s relationship with his mom in the present. Jeanine Seralles does a fantastic job in the role. Leaning into the uptight Catholic mom cliche, she makes it clear how much John is breaking her heart as he continues to act with/for Lilith. While she and John ultimately get closure, it feels like a missed opportunity to not have the mom more involved in John and Lilith’s relationship and inevitable reckoning. Of all the heartbreak the film could explore, the mother’s felt the ripest. 

 

But the dynamic between John and Lilith is also delicate. You see how badly John wants to be happy. You can tell Lilith is acting out because she is still too young to know what she wants. While there’s no way they can logically sustain a relationship, the scenario Merola has cooked up here is so juicy that you’ll be praying for it to all work out whether you’re a Catholic or not. 

 

Even with numerous melodramatic beats, Merola sprinkles in some comedic moments too. Some are simple deadpan one-liners. Others are brilliantly-edited gags time to a perfect jumpcut. One of the best involves Lilith forcing John to bless a dog with what he thinks is holy water. 

 

Making a film in the coming-of-age genre is difficult. Making one set against a religious backdrop is harder. Still, Chris Merola makes it look effortless in Lemonade Blessing. Some may draw comparisons to Lady Bird. In contrast, this film is much more interested in exploring morality. Though it is very intentional in its humor and its heart, when looking for the film’s true message, the devil is the details.