Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
A spark of attraction smolders, then ignites, between two teens from different high schools who meet by chance at a party.
The First Time is a sweet but fairly formulaic teen romantic drama that hits familiar beats of first love and awkward intimacy. The performances from Dylan O'Brien and Britt Robertson elevate the material with genuine chemistry, making it more engaging than its generic premise might suggest. Cinematography is serviceable but unremarkable, typical of low-budget teen indies. The narrative covers well-trodden ground with little distinctive voice or conception, placing it squarely in derivative territory for novelty. The ending offers modest emotional satisfaction without subverting expectations.