Booksmart is
your typical coming-of-age comedy, marking Olivia Wilde's debut as a film
director. The movie is fun, and its core message is basically, “Live your best
life while maintaining a balance between having fun and focusing on school or
work.”
The story
revolves around two friends who dedicate themselves to being the best
straight-A students so they can get into top colleges, only to realize they’ve
been denying themselves the joys of being teenagers. For me, the movie was so
much fun because of the cast's power. The story might feel familiar, but the
journey from start to finish felt fresh. I enjoyed being part of a new script,
even though the theme was something we’ve seen before.
This fast-paced comedy introduces two female friends, Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein), high school seniors just days away from graduation. They’re seen by their peers as pretentious—and for good reason. They focus so much on academic excellence that they avoid parties and recklessness. Deep down, though, they’re just like everyone else; they’ve simply chosen to prioritize school over partying.
Amy often takes
on the sidekick role in her friendship with Molly, who is the more assertive
and driven of the two. Amy doesn’t mind this dynamic, as she’s not into
partying or socializing much. She has a gap year planned, intending to go to
Africa for self-discovery. Amy is also not straight and is looking forward to
her first romantic experience—she currently has a crush on another girl at
school.
When Molly
discovers that her classmates—whom she assumed were irresponsible—are actually
getting into top colleges, even better ones than hers in some cases, she loses
it. She tells Amy that they need to do something wild before they graduate. To
her, what’s the point of all their sacrifices if the people who had fun are
ending up at the same or better schools?
A party is
happening, and even though they weren’t invited, Molly insists they go. Their
journey to the party is what makes this movie one of the best you should watch.
The movie was
both critically and commercially successful. For her directorial debut, Wilde
did a fantastic job, and the film earned Feldstein a Best Actress nomination in
Comedy or Musical at the 77th Golden Globe Awards. It also received numerous
accolades and awards, with Wilde winning several for her direction.
Billie Lourd’s
performance is a standout; her supporting role is unforgettable. If you haven’t
seen this movie yet, you definitely should.
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