Booksmart Review

From American Graffiti to Dazed and Confused to Superbad, these films have proven that the narrative of youth seeking transformative experiences through partying is one that can be relatable to everyone if done correctly, despite being curated to a specific generation. Within the first few moments of Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut Booksmart, the inspirations from these now classic coming-of-age tales are extremely apparent. However, it's Booksmarts near flawless execution and willingness to consistently subvert expectations that makes the film feel completely its own. Heartfelt and wonderfully constructed, Booksmart continues the contemporary step forward of the genre while being wonderfully original in humour and style.

Actress Olivia Wilde has made her debut behind the lens look effortless. Her expressive framing and focused direction create scenes that are charismatic and full of life, instantly incapsulating the viewer in the wonderfully hectic and erratic world. Wilde shows immaculate restraint for a rookie director at the helm of a vibrant and youthful comedy, knowing when to be ambitious and when to play it safe, balancing bold humour with fantastic moments of melancholy and discovery. Completed by a fantastic soundtrack and a wonderfully concentrated script by the writing team Emily Halpern, Susanna Fogel, Sarah Haskins and Katie Silberman, Booksmart oozes a level of self awareness and understanding of the films age demographic that most screenwriters of the genre long for.

Booksmart follows best friends Amy and Molly, two academic overachievers who are about to graduate high school and be on their way to their hard earned and successful futures at Yale and Columbia. However, on the eve of graduation, the two find out that many of their classmates of whom they think lesser of are also going to prestigious universities. This prompts the sudden realization that the two may have missed out on many special moments of their teenage years, igniting a determination to use the little time they have left before high school is over to live the social lives they originally sacrificed.

The wide array of wacky and naïve characters in Booksmart is what ties everything together. The skater girl, the flamboyant and over-the-top dramatic arts students, a lonely yet socially outgoing rich kid and his free-spirited sister, these characters never feel cliché or underdeveloped, with the film dedicating enough time for each person to have their own memorable moments that effect each scene. However, it’s the films two leads that steal the show, the fantastic chemistry between actresses Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein is undeniable and infectious, giving a vivacious energy and compassion that makes their fictional lifelong friendship incredibly believable.

Booksmart has few moments that miss the mark, with Wilde displaying some ambitious and imaginative filmmaking that can shift the tone drastically and can sometimes feel jarring. There is one specific stop motion scene that despite some inventiveness, ultimately never delivers to the same degree that the rest of Booksmart’s wonderfly comedic set-pieces do.

These are minor issues that are few and far between, and never truly break the immersion and enjoyment one will have with Booksmart. Olivia Wilde has created a film that is hilarious and memorable, a one-night odyssey of friendship, insecurities and discovery that will surely become one of the most talked about comedies of the year.

Impeccably crafted and hilarious, Booksmart creates a refreshing and memorable spin on the coming-of-age narrative that helps it become one of the best of the genre.

Produced By: Annapurna Pictures
Runtime: 105 minutes
Rating: R