"Booksmart" is a Refreshingly Un-Sanitized, Spectacular Coming-of-Age Drama
By: Keaton Marcus
DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 16, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!
90/100 “sweet”
Just as it seems that coming-of-age dramas are becoming produced too frequently, or people are becoming a little fatigued about another teen-focused film wallowing in unnecessary angst. Well, "Booksmart" is different, and more real than even the greatest of the genre, delivering triumphant performances, a hilariously engaging story, and an exceptional femi-nerd comedy with girl power and drinking to spare. Actress Olivia Wilde presents a smashing directorial debut about graduation, which stars refreshingly unique stars Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as the two extraordinarily written main characters. There are so many terrific moments, so much "nerds rock" type shenanigans, and the greatest thing of all: it never slows up on the wildly inappropriate bits of seventeen-year-old life. A must-see overall, but be aware that it certainly isn't for everyone, but to the right person: prepare for a wild ride.
The day of graduation is just beginning to stress out two highschool students, and best friends Molly (Feldstein) and Amy (Dever) who are to be considered, well, bookworms. They are certainly ready to breathe in the pristine years of Ivy League universities, Molly at Yale and Amy at Columbia. One issue is: just when the two buds are about to silently gloat about how all their studies pay off and on their superiority to the 24-hour partiers--they find a little something out. The Jocks, and the popular girls, after all, their misdemeanors in Crockett High, are also ready to reap similarly prestigious colleges. Have they spent too much time with studies? Not enough parties? Are they fun at all? Amy and Molly are determined to flip the switch by heading to Nick's house party.
"Booksmart" doesn't just deliver excellent comic relief with the film's two wonderfully paired stars, the film also does the seemingly impossible--add new things to an already overstuffed genre. Beanie Feldstein, who happens to be Jonah Hill's sister, delivers the laughs expected from an actress who has relations to such a legend in comedy. On the other hand, there's Kaitlyn Dever who plays Amy, a lesbian teen looking at a chance to "scissor" her crush Rian. Molly, however, who seemingly detests popular kids-- is secretly hiding the fact that her life-long crush happens to be Nick, the ultimate Jock. They are born ready to do other comedy duos together, I would personally love to see stand-ups and future feature films.
The direction, by Wilde, is sensational. It's pitch-perfect, authentic, and she certainly doesn't sanitize the R-rated bits of the picture. In one brilliant scene, Molly and Amy are tricked into eating strawberries which have been drugged. Soon after, their brains have been fooled into thinking that they"re bodies have been transformed into dolls, in the scene, Amy especially comments on how her breasts are "perfect", and her legs "long", but Molly can't wait to get out of this nightmare. The latter remarks on how she's lost her "chunk". Oh, but there's much more. However, no more of my descriptions, go watch it on the silver screen!
The final opinion is: Olivia Wilde's "Booksmart" is a sensational coming-of-age comedy-drama with distinguished performances by Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever while adding fresh ideas to a genre seemingly overstuffed with them...$PLURGE IT