Booksmart (2019)
- Corey Bulloch
- May 23, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 23, 2019
★★★★★
On the eve of their high school graduation, two academic superstars and best friends realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night.
Classification: 15
One of the best surprises of the year, Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut is an emotional, hilarious foray that will leave you stunned at the maturity of the drama and the immaturity of the comedy. At first glance one could just label Booksmart as just “Superbad with Girls” and while that comparison is apt, Wilde and her cast goes above and beyond to make this film stand as its own glorious beast. A razor-sharp script that takes comedy clichés and makes them feel fresh and original combined with two dynamite leads bursting with energy and humanity.
Booksmart fires on all cylinders but the foundation of its brilliance is how Kaitlyn Dever as Amy and Beanie Feldstein as Molly portray a grounded and loving friendship. It’s their connection to one another that makes the madness of Booksmart all the more priceless with challenges that will leave audiences shocked and howling with laughter. The script really allows these actresses to shine especially Feldstein whose animosity towards her peers gives the film some of its finest emotional and comedic moments. The supporting cast does the part as well with Jessica Williams and Jason Sudeikis’s appearances as the girl's cool teacher and “cool” principal allow for the comedy to reach new awkward heights.
The hidden gems are the other students that Amy and Molly encounter during their night on the town, from a rich kids boat party to a drama club themed murder mystery party, Booksmart has its bases covered with high school clichés. Olivia Wilde, however, makes these encounters fresh and original with the comedic timing and committed performances of her actors. The scene-stealer being Billie Lourd as eccentric party girl Gigi, who encounters the girls at various points in the film with each appearance topping the last. Wilde’s direction showcases real confidence in storytelling, Booksmart isn’t just a series of punchlines but a real examination of friendship, adolescence and insecurity. Jokes from the beginning payoff as emotional conclusions but never allowing the film to lose its edge.
Creativity is one of the paramount takeaways from Booksmart, Wilde delivers a number of sequences that elevate this from any other comedy. The third act of the film allowing the actors to really delve emotionally and show real vulnerability, notably Kaitlyn Dever. Dever’s Amy’s struggle to court a girl she likes while begins as a set up for comedy but leads to scenes that really showcase a teenagers experiences with intimacy. Wilde, cinematographer Jason McCormick and editor Jaime Gross create a harmony between the nuanced emotions and outlandish comedy.
Despite bearing similarities to other films before it, Booksmart feels completely and utterly unique. In large part to the passion and dedication from Olivia Wilde, her production team and cast, it is a joy to watch from start to finish. With powerful messaging on feminism, identity and love, there is very little Booksmart doesn’t completely excel at. Even with its contemporary American high school setting, its the emotional core of the storytelling that resonates so well and transcends beyond its target audience. This is one for the ages and will definitely be seeing a place in my Best of the Year List.
Director: #OliviaWilde
Release Date: 27th May 2019
Trailer:
Written review copyright ©CoreyBullochReviews
Images and Synopsis from the Internet Movie Database
Comentarios