‘Pools’ Review: A Coming-of-Age Film Struggling to Find Its Own Voice

The film ‘Pools,’ directed by Sam Hayes, follows Kennedy, a young woman navigating summer classes at a Chicago university while coping with the recent loss of her father. As she faces the risk of losing her scholarship, Kennedy retreats into a summer of drinking and hanging out with friends in an affluent neighborhood’s swimming pools. Although the premise offers a solid foundation for a coming-of-age story, the film struggles to establish a unique identity. It relies heavily on clichés and borrows stylistic elements from well-known indie directors, particularly Wes Anderson, including familiar quick zooms and color grading. The narrative feels patched together with montages and scenes reminiscent of whimsical music videos, lacking a clear emotional core. Rather than presenting an original exploration of youth and grief, the movie attempts to imitate a particular indie teen film atmosphere without deeply engaging with its themes. ‘Pools’ runs for 1 hour and 39 minutes and is currently in theaters, but it falls short of delivering an authentic or groundbreaking cinematic experience.