Winter Spring Summer or Fall

If you spent any time on the internet in late 2022, you couldn't escape the "Wednesday" dance or the intense shipping of the leads. So, seeing Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White reunited in Winter Spring Summer or Fall feels like a very specific gift to a very specific corner of the digital world. I watched this while trying to fix a leaky faucet in my kitchen, and I ended up sitting on the floor with a wrench in one hand and my phone in the other for the full 97 minutes, completely forgetting about the minor flood happening behind me. There’s something undeniably magnetic about these two together, even when they’ve traded gothic lace and telekinesis for hoodies and SAT prep.

The Wednesday Reunion We Needed

The film follows Remi (Jenna Ortega) and Barnes (Percy Hynes White), two high school seniors who couldn't be more diametrically opposed if they tried. Remi is the classic overachiever—the kind of girl who probably has a color-coded spreadsheet for her leisure time—while Barnes is the "live in the moment" artist who seems perfectly content to let the world happen to him. We meet them in the winter of their final year, and the story unfolds over four specific days, one in each season.

What struck me immediately was how much Jenna Ortega has mastered the art of the "thawing" character. We know she can do icy and detached, but here she has to play someone whose armor is made of academic ambition rather than morbid cynicism. Seeing her play opposite Percy Hynes White again is a treat because their chemistry is effortless. He has this slouchy, effortless charm that perfectly counters her high-strung energy. It’s basically a high-stakes LinkedIn profile vs. a sketchbook, and we all know which one usually wins the movie.

A Calendar of Small Moments

The "four days in a year" structure is a bold choice by director Tiffany Paulsen. It’s a narrative device we’ve seen used effectively in films like Before Sunrise (1995) or even the more recent One Day (2011), but here it’s tailored for the Gen Z experience. By skipping the "boring" parts of a relationship—the weeks of texting, the school hallways, the routine—the film focuses entirely on the inflection points.

However, this structure is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it keeps the runtime tight and the emotional stakes high. On the other, I sometimes felt like I was missing the connective tissue. We see them fall in love in the gaps. In an era of "fast-paced content," this movie lean heavily on the audience’s willingness to fill in the blanks. If you aren't a fan of people talking about their feelings in picturesque locations, you might want to run for the hills. But for those of us who grew up on the "walk and talk" subgenre, there’s a cozy, familiar rhythm to it.

The supporting cast, including Adam Rodriguez (who I’ll always associate with Magic Mike) and Marisol Nichols (a Riverdale veteran), do a fine job as the parents, representing the external pressures that threaten to pull Remi and Barnes apart. They aren't villains, though; they’re just adults who have forgotten what it feels like to have your whole world hinge on a single season.

The Weight of the "Next Step"

Released in a post-pandemic landscape where the traditional "coming-of-age" story feels a bit more fragile, Winter Spring Summer or Fall taps into that very contemporary anxiety about the future. Remi’s obsession with Harvard isn't just a plot point; it’s a symptom of a generation that feels they have to be "exceptional" just to be okay.

The film was directed by Tiffany Paulsen, who actually wrote the Netflix hits Holidate (2020) and About Fate (2022). You can see her fingerprints all over this—she has a knack for making "meet-cutes" feel slightly more grounded than your average Hallmark flick. This was actually her directorial debut, and she clearly knows how to let her actors breathe. She doesn’t over-edit the conversations, allowing the silences between Remi and Barnes to feel just as important as the dialogue.

One of the more interesting behind-the-scenes tidbits is that this film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2024, which usually signals a bit more "indie cred" than your standard teen romance. It’s a Motion Picture Corporation of America production, a company that has practically cornered the market on streaming comfort food. It’s interesting to see them try something a bit more atmospheric and character-driven, even if it still hits some of the expected beats of the genre.

Ultimately, Winter Spring Summer or Fall is a charming, if slightly predictable, look at the fleeting nature of young love. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but with Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White behind the wheel, the ride is plenty enjoyable. It’s the kind of movie that makes you wistful for a version of senior year that probably only exists in the movies, where the lighting is always perfect and your biggest problem is how to say goodbye. It’s a solid weekend watch, especially if you’re looking for something that feels like a warm blanket with just a hint of a chill.