Dr. Pete Newmans (Johnny Simmons) is a successful sex therapist whose practice is almost completely devoted to helping people avoid their sexual impulses. His modus operandi is to dispassionately condition his clients into re-channeling their sexual desires into other, theoretically more productive, pursuits. “Turn copulation into communication,” he advises. While his job consists of doling out sexual advice, he can’t seem to bring himself to move things along with his best friend/neighbor, Michelle (Brittany Snow). Pete clearly feels some sort of affection towards Michelle, but it’s obvious that there’s no sexual component to their relationship and Pete is at a loss as to why. The confusion of his parents, James and Brenda (J.K. Simmons & Maria Bello, respectively), only makes things worse.
When Pete is hit in the nether regions during a friendly basketball game, his doctors discover a pituitary tumor that has been delaying his onset of puberty by about 15 years. Not only does Pete suddenly have an explanation for the various physical and mental issues that had been plaguing him—including underdeveloped genitalia and absence of sex-drive—but also, after the removal of the tumor, he undergoes what would normally be years of puberty in a matter of weeks. What generally takes a normal person four to five teenage years to gradually adjust to hits Pete like a ton of bricks. Mood swings, voice changes, rebellion, acne and of course near uncontrollable erections greet Pete as he tries to navigate life as both a horny 15 year-old kid and a 30 year-old man.
Needless to say, Pete’s work suffers. His entire career has been built upon him persuading people to not let sex control their lives, something that was easy when he was devoid of testosterone. Now, however, that he has the raging hormones of a 15 year-old, that’s much more difficult to achieve. In the meantime, Michelle has been accepted at a prestigious cooking competition run by superstar chef Bobby Flay and Pete’s jealousy is getting the best of him. He’s lashing out and pushing Michelle away and she has no idea what’s causing it, as Pete has yet to explain what he’s going through.
He’s also becoming more aggressive and selfish, reneging on a promise to babysit for best friend Rich (Kumail Nanjiani) and his wife Jenny (Vanessa Ragland) on their wedding anniversary and instead steals their table at a fancy restaurant for a date with Michelle. When Rich and Jenny arrive and confront him, Michelle storms out and Pete’s plans for the perfect date are ruined.
His hormones taking control and his chance at happiness with Michelle ruined, Pete goes off the rails, with the final straw being his boss (Jane Lynch) walking in on a session as he is about to be fellated by a patient. Suspended from his practice and with a particularly prominent lecture in danger of being cancelled, Pete has to take stock. With help from his father (JK Simmons) and friends, Pete makes amends and is finally honest with himself about sex and Michelle and everything else, deciding to give it one more shot…one more attempt to woo Michelle.
At the grand opening of the new Bobby Flay restaurant (Michelle won the competition and is the sous chef), Pete makes yet another scene in a restaurant, but this time it’s to tell Michelle the truth. It works and with a little urging from Bobby Flay himself, Pete finally kisses the girl and wins the day.
Flash forward to a book signing. Pete’s published his new memoir about his experiences and Michelle and his parents are at his side.
The film stars Simmons alongside Maria Bello, Brittany Snow, Jane Lynch, J.K. Simmons, Kumail Nanjiani, Beck Bennett, and Paul Wesley. The Late Bloomer hits select theaters and on-demand October 7th.
