Two academic superstars realize they wasted their high school years by studying and decide to cram four years worth of partying into one night.
COMEDY
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Booksmart (2019)Directed by Olivia Wilde
Written by Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, Katie Silberman Starring Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Jason Sudeikis, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte |
For pretty justifiable reasons, lack of diversity has been a big thing Hollywood has been called out on. Due to it, there has been a bigger push for more diversity both behind and in front of the camera. And, mostly, I find this to be a good thing. We get stories with a fresher perspective now. Both old and new. But, with that said, there’s a flipside. One where the story suffers because the producers only focused on getting diverse talent. Even when it makes no sense to the story. This is what bugs the crap out of me. But, here recently, I’ve noticed something else happening. We’re getting the exact same story, just replaced with an all-female cast. Like this movie for example. Booksmart is basically the female version of Superbad. Except not nearly as funny.
Tell me if this plot doesn’t sound a little familiar. Two best friends about to graduate high school realize they have focused too much on academics and decide to party hard their last night together. It’s not exact, but the plot is awfully similar. Even the beginning. The main character is picked up outside her house by her best friend where jokes ensue. Again, pretty close. And, this is the film’s biggest flaw. It adheres to closely to the aforementioned film. Which serves as a constant reminder of how much funnier Superbad is anyway. As for this film’s humor. Unfortunately, it couldn’t save it. Minus a scene or two, I either just stared blankly at the screen or chuckled a bit. Before anyone attacks me for this comparison, I’m aware of the comparison I made with Hustlers and Ocean’s Eight existing. Both of which I mostly enjoyed. But, the former is based on a true story and the latter is a sequel spin-off to an ongoing franchise. So, they get a pass. Booksmart is an original idea that just seems to ape a better, and funnier, comedy. Hopefully, Wilde attempts to be more original in her next feature. |
Booksmart is Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut and what a way to start! She is apparently working with Katie Silberman on another film and I’m definitely in for whatever they decide to do next. This is a hilarious film with fresh faces and fresh perspectives. The film stars Kaitlyn Dever as Amy and Beanie Feldstein as Molly, two girls who have their shit together. They are about to graduate high school and get prepared for college, so it’s time to party.
The night holds experiences that Amy and Molly hadn’t ever been through before. Experiences that book smarts don’t really get you through. This film is smart and relevant to the current culture. It’s so cool to see new age films that are in that coming of age category. Booksmart has characters that seem far too real and they pop off the screen. You get a mild Euphoria vibe if you know what I mean. Just not nearly as bleak. I find this to be one of the most hilarious films of the year, behind The Art of Self-Defense and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. It’s jam packed with laughs and pretty impressive cuts from Olivia. It’s good to have another female working as a director. Representation is massive and I hope films like this that revolve around a female's perspective keep getting made. |