Crush is a noun that means an intense but usually short-lived infatuation, like your crush on that attractive classmate or coworker. It can also refer to a group or mass, such as a crush of commuters on a subway car. A crushing can be a destructive force, as when a train crushes a car that’s stopped on the tracks or when a military dictator squashes a revolt with his forces. But in the more positive sense, a crush can be something sweet and hopeful—like your crush on that cute barista at your local coffee shop or the intense but fleeting feelings you have for your boyfriend.
A crush is a typical part of growing up, especially for adolescents and young adults. Research shows that most young people have had a crush at one point, often during their early high school years. In fact, researchers believe that a crush can help teens learn how to develop and maintain healthy relationships. Having a crush can even teach them how to recognize and address their own emotional needs, which are essential for healthy love.
In a crush, the brain releases mood-boosting hormones such as dopamine and oxytocin. This causes an increase in heart rate and butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling, and can make you obsess over your crush, a phenomenon known as “crush obsession.” The good news is that you can break the cycle of a crush by practicing self-care and finding ways to connect with others. For example, if you have a crush on your friend’s best friend, try reaching out to them and meeting up for lunch. You can also focus on activities that make you feel happy, such as exercising and doing the New York Times crossword.
A teen flick about high school romance and coming-of-age drama, Crush, stars Rowan Blanchard as Paige, a lesbian whose lifelong crush is Gabriela (Isabella Ferreira), who is also on the track team. When Paige meets Gabriela’s twin sister AJ (Auli’i Cravalho), her feelings begin to change. But the film’s bare-minimum approach to storytelling results in little nuance, humor, or real humanity.
It’s not surprising that Crush feels so rote and cliche—after all, it’s a movie starring two attractive teenagers falling in and out of love. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be charming, or at least entertaining.
Whether or not it’s a rom-com cliché, Crush is fun, and its delightful cast keeps it from sinking completely under the weight of its own prefabricated narrative. However, the movie does suffer from its parent company’s seeming willingness to portray nominal representation of the LGBTQ community—even if it leads to a story that lacks depth and sophistication.
A crush is a common part of growing up, and many people enjoy sharing their stories of unrequited love. But a crush can also be a dangerous thing, especially for those in a monogamous relationship or who are experiencing adolescent emotions. Talking to a therapist may be helpful to identify the causes of your infatuation and learn how to manage it.