Directed by Olivia Wilde
Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams
Rated R for strong sexual content and language throughout, drug use and drinking – all involving teens
Actress Olivia Wilde directs her first feature film, a coming of age film that features many laughs in Booksmart. Booksmart is in the same vein of other teen comedies such as Superbad, The Breakfast Club, and most notably, Lady Bird. Booksmart is very similar to other teen comedies but does stand out from the rest of the crowd due to its humor and surrealism.
Booksmart stars Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as Molly and Amy, respectively, as two best friends on their last day in school. The friends are exceptional students with remarkable grades and are ready to go to Ivy League schools. But they realized that they could have worked hard and have fun as many of their peers have done. So before school does end, the pair decide to go to a party, starting a wild night for the pair.
First and foremost, Booksmart is hilarious. Laugh out loud hilarious. It has been a long time that I have a good laugh in a comedy. The characters are each hilarious, even supporting characters such as Principal Brown (played by Jason Sudeikis) who appears in a few scenes only. There is a hilarious scene between Molly, Amy, and Principal Brown in a car ride. It is something that needs to be seen. Booksmart is filled with many scenes like this.
The screenplay is also well written. Writers Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, and Katie Silberman do a outstanding job writing for teenagers who are living in 2019. The writing does not feel forced, it feels natural and seems like what young liberal women in 2019 would be saying and doing. Because the writing is so good, it can be relatable to teenagers of today, regardless of gender. Since this is relatable to teenagers to today, this is a film that can be watched multiple times and even to future generations, just like other other coming of age films have done.
The screenplay also does have a few surprises that some may or may not have seen coming. The audience is lead to believe that one scene will happen this way but it turns out another, it was well executed. The film does also feature other well done technical aspects such as a one take shot and music that seems fitting for the 2010’s.
Booksmart is a very hilarious film that features well written characters. Director Olivia Wilde directs a coming of age film that feels like a standout in the decade with many coming of age films such as Lady Bird and Boyhood, just to name a few. If I had to compare Booksmart to another great comedy, it would be Lady Bird (which both feature Beanie Feldstein). If you like Lady Bird, then you will enjoy and laugh out loud in Booksmart.
4/4
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