Academic overachievers Amy and Molly thought
keeping their noses to the grindstone gave them a leg up on their high school
peers. But on the eve of graduation, the best friends suddenly realize that
they may have missed out on the special moments of their teenage years.
Determined to make up for lost time, the girls decide to cram four years of
not-to-be missed fun into one night -- a chaotic adventure that no amount of
book smarts could prepare them for.
Director: Olivia Wilde
Cast: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Will Forte,
Lisa Kudrow, Jason Sudeikis
Release Date: May 24, 2019
Genres: Comedy
Rated R for strong sexual content and language throughout, drug use and
drinking - all involving teens
Runtime: 1h 42min
Review:
Booksmart can easily be written off as a female version of Superbad but
it’s actually much more than just that.
Oliva Wilde directorial debut is a smart and funny even if feels
familiar. The coming of age story is
well worn and it can be difficult to bring something new to the table. Wilde brings a nice bit of visual flair along
with likable characters. The central duo
of Kaitlyn Dever & Beanie Feldstein share great chemistry and strong
comedic timing. The supporting cast is made
up of a steady stream of familiar faces who all make the film better though I
do wish we’d gotten a bit more of Jason Sudeikis. Billie Lourde does stand out as a recurring
character that’s constantly everywhere.
Overall, the story has a strong sense of inclusiveness and heart at its
center adding depth to the raunchy romp.
It’s likely to join the list of the great coming of age movies much like
Superbad.
A-
