The ending is a tiresome new-agey cop-out and a lot of viable ideas have gone to waste. A disappointment.

With its rare focus on girls’ friendship and growing up, 'Summering' has good intentions but that never actually makes it a good movie. Girls are owed their own 'Stand by Me,' but they deserve so much better than this.

That ethereal sort of thing could get gloopy and sentimental, but “Summering” balances the bucolic stuff with bits of acidic humor.

Ponsoldt’s Summering feels a bit disjointed as the themes and narratives are all over the place, but there are so many moments between them that makes the movie worthwhile.