Best friends Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) have spent their entire high school careers focused on their grades and their futures. They spent years avoiding the masses (and fun) as they paved their way to successful college and professional careers. On their final day of high school, as their hard work is just about to pay off, Molly realizes that her (and Amy’s) hard work, and lack of excitement, has not paid off to the extent that they had previously believed, and the people who she considers to be her lessers have found the same success with none of the sacrifice. The two friends are determined, on their last night before graduation, to make up for lost time and squeeze four years of fun into one, action-packed night. Their friendship and psyches will be tested as they are immersed in a world of unfamiliarity.
Booksmart is director Olivia Wilde’s attempt at the ever popular raunchy teen comedy. Her slew of writers continued the trend of coming of age stories that depict young adults stepping out of their comfort zone and finding life’s harsh realities and its greatest rewards. Reminiscent of recent successful films, Blockers (2018) and Good Boys (2019), the four writers (Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel and Katie Silberman) found new ways to reach audiences and introduce them to not only the many personalities in the film, but the many personalities that surround them in the real world. Wilde and the writers did more than just tell a tale of teenage adventure, they told a story of learning and of acceptance.
The characters represent the people around us and how, while they differ significantly on the surface, their ability to succeed mirrors ours. Wilde’s ability to have audiences connect with the characters the way that they did allowed for the viewers to accept the message in front of them and to find solace in the simplicity and the truth of what was said. The young actors who took part in making this film perfectly executed their roles and helped to develop this deep and meaningful story.
The only downside of the entire film was the fact that parts were cheesy, and, yet, that aspect of the writing actually helped to provide levity in times of difficulty and relatability when the characters appeared too good to be true.
Wilde’s first attempt at a feature length film was a success, as the film embodied aspects that even some of the more experienced writers and directors lack in their works. She, along with Dever and Feldstein, are talented in their respective fields, and it appears that this film has propelled them each on a path toward success.
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