Booksmart (2019)

Review

102min

Genre:       Comedy

Director:    Olivia Wilde

Cast:         Beanie Feldstein, Kaitlyn Dever, Skyler Gisondo…and more

Writers:     Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins… and more

-Synopsis-

Headed to college after surviving the high school meat-grinder, a couple of academically focused and awkward best friends—determined to have fun and prove they’re more than just brains and conformity—embark on a quest to balance out years of academia with one unapologetic night of partying and rule-breaking, in this timely coming-of-age comedy and directorial debut from Olivia Wilde.

From the days of ‘National Lampoon’s Animal House’, through ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ and the ‘Porky’s’ series, all the way to the ‘American Pie’ franchise and ‘Superbad’, audiences have never been able to get enough of high school lads and college underdogs getting rude and crude with reckless abandon, and Hollywood has always obliged. Now in the post #MeToo, female empowerment era, the ladies get their shot at living it large in brash unapologetic style—as Olivia Wilde swaps the Hollywood star trailer for the director’s chair and gives us a female-first, socially progressive tale of friendship and irreverent comedy of mishaps.

Beanie Feldstein stars as California high school achiever and class president busybody ‘Molly’, tying up the loose ends of secondary school education with her equally intellectual best friend ‘Amy’ (Kaitlyn Dever) before heading off to college to change the world, when these two outsiders discover all the fun they’ve missed, and the little they have to show for it over all the party animals they looked down upon. And so begins a night of hilarity and misfortune, as they hunt for an elusive blowout party at the school jock ‘Nick’s’ (Mason Gooding) place, while crossing paths with their wealthy weirdo classmates ‘Gigi’ (Billie Lourd) and ‘Jared’ (Skyler Gisondo) and a number of other colourful figures—on a mad journey which will test their friendship and carry them towards self-acceptance.

No matter how hard you try to avoid the comparison between this film and ‘Superbard’, there’s no avoiding the many non-coincidental similarities, and how closely it mirrors the 2007 modern comedy classic. Not only does ‘Booksmart’ star Jonah Hill’s little sister in basically a different version of the same role he played, but the film also hits many of the same story beats and echoes the same narrative of two outsider high school best friends on a crazy night of sowing their wild teen oats before college, who are driven apart only to come back together in eternal friendship by the end . . . while learning about themselves along the way.

Director Wilde, her army of producers (which includes Will Ferrell and Adam McKay), cinematographer Jason McCormick and her writers also take plenty of stylistic inspiration from the Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg-written 2007 comedy, both in terms of the look and feel of the piece but also its energy—replicating and updating the funky and eclectic soundtrack which drove that film, while adding more of the ‘no f**ks given’ attitude so prevalent in this latest generation . . . for better or worse.

So once you’re honest enough to accept that this is indeed a post millennial, progressive female-led version of ‘Superbad’, you’re left asking yourself one question, does it have anything else to offer?—and the answer is yes . . . to a point.

‘Booksmart’ is an utterly modern irreverent comedy if you ever saw one. Brash, unapologetic and self-assured, framing the story from a different perspective than we’re used to while updating high school character archetypes and subverting them slightly for a savvy 21st century audience, making sure to not cross an invisible line and offend any minority group, while representing as many as possible.

The film is anchored by two strong lead characters who prove relatable and almost instantly likeable, sometimes in spite of themselves,  brought to life by well-judged performances by the actors playing them—particularly Beanie Feldstein, whom after her adorable best friend performance in ‘Lady Bird’ seems destined to become a star in the indie film comedy circuit, if not mainstream Hollywood.

Bearing in mind that humour is entirely dependent on personal preference, and that comedy is the most subjective of genres, ‘Booksmart’ both walks a familiar and a well-trodden comedic path, taking a socially progressive detour that refuses to cross many a line which most outrageous comedies wouldn’t think twice about—particularly when it comes to risqué teenage banter which would now be considered inappropriate and non-inclusive—while steering clear of any hint of objectification, and only addressing it to skewer the practice.

As such though, the film feels a tad meek and kneecaps itself, undercutting its credentials as a genuinely irreverent comedy. And for our money it’s distinctly inconsistent when it comes to the humour, while trying too hard to replicate the seemingly effortless funny and cool of the films it so wants to replicate—at times proving genuinely hilarious and delivering legit belly-laughs, but at others falling flat . . . and even a little cringeworthy.

As for its merits as a socially conscious and conscientious coming-of-age comedy, sure Wilde & co. are careful to frame the traditionally marginalised as a very normal centre of the story, putting forth about as diverse a student body as you can imagine and creating a story of self-acceptance to suit all ideas of gender and sexuality. But despite its social leanings and a good heart at its core, at no point do you really forget that you’re watching a flippant and shallow gross-out teen comedy, rather than something supposedly more profound.

If you look at ‘Booksmart’ in a sober light, it ultimately amounts to a fun and reasonably outrageous laugh-in, which despite its female-centric approach is nowhere near as seminal or groundbreaking as it’s made out to be. Yet it still boasts a healthy humour ratio and manages to entertain while smuggling in a nice little inclusive message of friendship and self-acceptance, seemingly capturing the imagination of critics all around . . . but struggling to truly ensnare ours.

The Bottom Line…

Despite being a bit hit-and-miss with the humour, more than a tad derivative with the narrative, and a bit too safe with the comedy, ‘Booksmart’ delivers an inclusive message, plus just enough laughs and youthful reckless abandon to make for an entertaining addition to the coming-of-age, irreverent high school comedy canon—delivering a solid directorial debut for Olivia Wilde, without ever truly capturing our imagination . . . or our heart.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Superbad (2007)

Three high school misfits determined to graduate with a bang, embark on a quest to reach the party of all parties and lose their virginity before college, with hilariously disastrous consequences in this outrageously irreverent coming-of-age comedy which launched several stellar comedy careers.

Directed by Greg Mottola and starring Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse among others.

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