The Emperor has no clothes (Spoiler alert)

I've not heard of anyone who wants to rename, or defend, pedophiles, but I think you are mixing up your terms. A pedophile is an adult who is attracted to prepubescent children-- those typically 9 and younger. That's not what is going on in the film at all. A mature 15-year-old boy, who is financially independent and working as an actor, starts dating an immature 25-year-old girl, who still lives at home, and is still living like she's a teenager. And, the film is set in the 1970s, when society was less judgmental about that sort of thing, and people were generally more free to live life on their own terms.

Immoral is a tricky term, as that's tied into each person's own personal views of right or wrong. We can bring legal issues into it, but that's tricky, too, as legal does not always imply correct. Plenty of things are illegal that many think should not be, and vice versa.

Best I can say is that as depicted in the film, the relationship makes perfect sense, and I have no issue with it. You do, which is equally valid a point, and that's about all we can really say.

The characters never had sex, and kissed only at the very end which was up to three years after the opening scene. Read the timeline thread. Sure, it is odd for a 28 yo to date an 18 yo, but not illegal.

Everything about Gary was asynchronous. He had an acting career, a waterbed business, and owned an arcade. On paper, he looked like a middle aged man. Whereas Alana was immature for her age. Working odd jobs, no college, and living with her parents.