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Sierra Burgess is a Loser (2018)


Sierra Burgess is a Loser (2018)



6/10



Starring
Shannon Purser
Kristine Froseth
RJ Cyler


Directed by Ian Samuels


The movie is a nice, average emotional ride with twists and turns that would never happen in real life. Sierra Burgess Is a Loser has an ending straight out of a fictitious romantic novel.

Before you jump on Netflix to watch this movie, note that the story is very loose—so loose that sometimes one thread runs amok and never gets tied back up properly.

The movie’s high point is Shannon Purser’s powerful performance. She seems to be the only person in the movie who delivered a performance that went beyond the concept of her role. When you think back on this movie, her face and voice will likely be the only things that stand out.

The movie’s plot starts with the introduction of Sierra Burgess (Shannon Purser), a high school student preparing for college applications. She’s on the bigger side and struggles with the pressure of living up to her father, a popular, successful, and genius writer, and her mother, a highly capable overachiever. Sierra is a regular student who does well in school, but because of her weight and looks, she’s labeled as one of the “losers.”


One of the popular girls at her school, Veronica, plays a mean joke on Sierra by giving her number to a boy from another school. The boy, who was hitting on Veronica, thinks he’s texting her, but he’s actually texting Sierra. Sierra, realizing the mix-up, decides to play along, and soon, the two start falling for each other—all without ever meeting in person. Sierra knows she has to do something quickly before she loses him.

Veronica, the head of the cheerleading squad, has her own insecurities. Despite being mean to others, she’s heartbroken after being dumped by a college student. Sierra offers to help Veronica win him back by teaching her about college life and philosophers so she can appear smart and informed. In return, Sierra asks Veronica to be the “face” while she acts as the “voice” when talking to the boy she’s fallen for online.

What starts as a trade between two girls who would never be seen together in school turns into something good, then sad, and then bad. The movie doesn’t just focus on Sierra and her love interest; it also explores Veronica’s struggles.

For me, this movie feels like an old-school rom-com from the early ’90s. It may not fit into the kind of movies we see today, but it’s average nonetheless. You’ll enjoy it as long as you don’t pull on any of the loose threads this movie leaves lying around.



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