OK but thoroughly modern indie teen graduation film
- Booksmart review by EP
This is a film about 2 girls who think that they have lost out on all the fun at school by working really hard and so decide to join the cooler crazier kids for one night before graduation.
It is pretty good, feels more like an indie film and a modern take on the 80s teen film genre although it all felt too politically correct to me and this tone prevails throughout. Don't get me wrong, there are some funny parts and good performances, I just don't think I am target audience. I liked it as the girls are nerds and they ultimately gain the support of their classmates after some funny exploits. There are some other quite amusing characters which evolve with the film too other than the 2 main parts.
Not terrible at all, just not great in my opinion.
4 out of 6 members found this review helpful.
Dreadful
- Booksmart review by NK
Trite rubbish. Wholly unbelievable plot with cliched characters. View shared by myself, my wife and teenage daughter. Very disappointed.
4 out of 4 members found this review helpful.
Good
- Booksmart review by KB
Overall i enjoyed this. It's more than a teen comedy . Like a mix of an indie film & mainstream film it's a bit offbeat & gets better & more amusing as it goes along.
3 out of 4 members found this review helpful.
Booksmart
- Booksmart review by JA
I really could not understand what the characters were saying and the subtitles went too fast. I could not relate to the characters or the story, and I felt relieved that I had not paid to see this on the big screen.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
A smart, ultra-fresh take on the high school comedy
- Booksmart review by CP Customer
Love this. Razor-sharp script, lovingly delivered with real pathos and style by the two leads and by every fully fleshed out supporting character.
Do we truly need yet another coming of age high school story? Yes we do, it seems, when it has this much to say about friendship, pre-judging, righteousness and all that pent up teenage angst.
I starting laughing within the first 15 seconds and basically didn't stop.
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
disappointing
- Booksmart review by HW
I thought this might be amusing like 'American Pie' or 'American Graffiti' alas noooo. Thin on plot, dialogue and anything. I'm not sure who the target audience is but anyone over 20 don't waste your time.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Better than expected
- Booksmart review by SC
I first heard about this film years ago but never got to see it, despite wanting to. I hadn't known that Kaitlyn Dever is in it, so it was a double bonus for me when I got it from CP. Too short! It arrived on Friday and I posted it back on Monday, having watched it five times. It's funny in the same way that Good Boys is, i.e. very, but without being slapstick. If I can't find it to buy soon, I'll probably rent it again. Soon. SPOILER ALERT!! My favourite bit is when they get to the first party, and Amy unexpectedly finds herself with another girl from her class who is smoking a joint, and then a man appears and says something like "You can't smoke here!" I just had to re-wind the response about seven times. My only complaint is that sometimes it's hard to hear what's being said: I had to put the subtitles on when I was watching the end scene for about the 5th or 7th time so that I could understand what Amy says. I thought she said: "Let's get baked!" which doesn't make sense; but what she actually says is: "Let's get pancakes!"
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Somewhat exhausting to watch
- Booksmart review by DT
It probably would appeal more if you were a teenage girl. Some very good acting but in the end you really didn't care what happened to the characters. Three maybe four stars for direction and acting, but nil for the rather silly (though indeed fast-paced), story line.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Comic drama
- Booksmart review by HM
Girl buddies movie. Endearing, witty and just plain daft. Goes out of its way to entertain with some silly characters. However, it never gives the impression of leaving reality behind so that you lose empathy with the characters. One you can watch with your partner (maybe not Grannie) safely!
Two college girls feel they have missed the racy side of college life so set about a pre-graduation day spree; if only they can find the 'big' party the in-crowd are going to. During the search they discover things about themselves and other people, so gain valuable lessons on life.
Leaves you with a glow that the human race is OK really, maybe a bit gooey. Recommended as a good drama, comedy, life reaffirming movie
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
High School Antics Comedy
- Booksmart review by GI
Smart, fast talking, funny and an unashamedly feminist comedy that is very clever, very well written and very entertaining. Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) are two high achieving students on the eve of graduating where Molly is off to an Ivy league University and Amy onto a gap year working in Africa before taking up a top college place too. They have achieved this by working hard and shunning the party hard mentality of their peers. But then they discover that their fellow students have also gained top places in top universities too they suddenly realise they have missed out. So they decide to attend the biggest graduation party in town but have to find out where it is first as they haven't been invited. The two stars are in every scene and it's their hilarious dynamic that drives the film and where the themes of confident sexuality, friendship and tolerance are grounded. A remarkable debut from first time director Olivia Wilde and great performances including cameos from Lisa Kudrow and Jason Sudeikis. The High School antics comedy is not a new film genre but this one exudes originality and goes in unexpected directions. Recommended.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
