Booksmart

Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Skyler Gisondo, Billie Lourd, Molly Gordon, Jessica Williams, Diana Silvers, Victoria Ruesga, Mason Gooding, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, Jason Sudeikis

Director: Olivia Wilde

Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) have spent their entire lives completely focused on their education and have planned every aspect of their adult lives. Amy, after spending the summer in Botswana, is going to Columbia and class president Molly is going to Yale. On the eve of graduation, the girls come to the horrific realization that all of their irresponsible classmates, like Triple A (Molly Gordon) and Nick (Mason Gooding), also got into good schools despite not showing much interest in their education. Nick is throwing one last party, which the girls see as their last opportunity to be like everyone else and be irresponsible while still getting into good schools. Plus it's the last shot for Amy, who has been out since 10th grade, to make a move on her crush Ryan (Victoria Ruesga) and Molly to make her move on Nick. Unfortunately for the girls, they are missing a critical piece to getting to Nick's party, the address.

There was a lot to like about this movie, starting with the two leads, Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein. The chemistry between the two is impeccable and I loved their relationship with each other. With the film essentially being a female Superbad, Wilde and the leading ladies are able to capture the dynamic relationship between the two leads that helped make that film so successful. I've been waiting for Dever to have her big Hollywood breakout after her fantastic turn on the TV show Justified, and this should be it. Hollywood please take note and give her more roles! I was equally impressed by Beanie Feldstein and was glad she was given a role with more depth than just being the best friend. The film and its characters adeptly balance humor and heart.

The film has plenty of laugh out loud moments provided by a game supporting cast. In what could have easily been a throwaway role, Billie Lourd is a hoot. The joke surrounding her character could have been annoying and overplayed but the script and Lourd play their cards impeccably. The film may also have my favorite use of an Alanis Morrissette song during a karaoke scene. The soundtrack in general is pretty on point and adds to the experience.

While a lot works in the film’s favor, there are some things that bothered me. The first centers around Jessica Williams’ character, who begins as a cautionary tale of what could happen to the girls if they don't allow themselves to have fun but then morphs into the teacher who hooks up with a student (who is 20 because he failed 7th Grade twice). Even with that explanation, it's an offputting and tired cliche that should probably be retired. The second centers around a drug trip where the girls hallucinate that they are dolls. It feels out of place, wasn't really that funny, and is again a tired cliche.

Kudos to Olivia Wilde and her directorial debut. Despite its few missteps, she made a very entertaining, heartfelt, and fast paced film and was able to bring out the best in her actors. What more can you ask for?

B+