Jeri Jacquin
Coming to theatres this Friday from director Olivia Wilde
and Annapurna Pictures is the story of the last night of the first night of
their lives after being BOOKSMART.
Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) are two
girls who have spent their years in libraries and studying. In those years
Molly and Amy became the best of friends and know each other secrets and
habits. Their idea of fun isn’t exactly like most seniors in high school.
Even Principal Brown (Jason Sudeikis) knows that about the
two girls. Molly being class president and valedictorian on the class, she is
making sure that all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed before saying
goodbye to the halls that educated her.
Overhearing a conversation, Molly learns that students she
thought didn’t take school seriously are attending colleges just as prestigious
as hers! The thought sends her into a tizzy and tells Amy that they are not
going to sit home in their pj’s on their final night.
That’s when she learns that Nick (Mason Gooding) is having a
final wild party and convinces Amy that going is the only way they are going to
redeem themselves. It also gives Amy a chance to hang out with Ryan (Victoria
Ruesga) and Molly can visit with Nick.
The problem is that with every move they make to try to get
to the party, something else gets in their way and mayhem ensues. From Jared
(Skyler Gisondo) leading them astray to Gigi (Billie Lourd) freaking them out
every place they go, Molly is not going to let anything to her from getting to
Nick’s.
When they finally arrive, everything changes – even Molly
and Amy! Their friendship is riding on the party and put to the test. Then
again…it’s only high school right?
Feldstein as Molly is the spokesperson for the dynamic duo.
She knows what she wants and pretty much tells Amy every bit of it. Yet there
is a believeability in the way she speaks to her friend and their relationship
from beginning to end. I enjoyed Feldstein so much and she reminded me a little
of someone I know.
Dever as Amy is charming, sweet and in love with someone who
doesn’t know she exists. It is clear she loves her friendship with Molly and
although reminding me a bit of Cameron Frye from FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF. She
goes along to get along and even if she’s having fun, there are moments where
fun makes her very nervous.
Gisondo as Jared is absolutely outrageous yet there is
something sweet about him. Perhaps it’s because he understands Molly and Amy
more than he is given credit for. Gooding as Nick is the guy in school who just
wants to have a good time and isn’t seen as a serious student. Sudeikis as the
Principal is hilarious and in a role that totally gives him the opportunity to
just totally go crazy in a great way.
Okay, it must be said Lourd as Gigi is absolutely
hysterical. I just love this character but mainly because of what she says and
what she does. A free spirit that’s a little bit on the nutty side and no one
more than Lourd deserves to just let loose.
Other cast include Will Forte as Doug, Diana Silvers as Hope,
Molly Gordon as Triple A, Eduardo Franco as Theo, Nico Hiraga as Tanner, Austin
Crute as Alan, Jessica Williams as Miss Fine and Lisa Kudrow as Charmaine.
BOOKSMART is charming, funny, silly, and gives the audience
a look at pieces of their own high school days. There are the usual
misunderstandings, cliques, misconceptions and chances to have one last
opportunity to a make a mark that could be memorable forever.
After all, isn’t that what high school is all about? The
mistakes that are made, the plans that change every other day, friendships that
in some cases become life long (I happen to know a few of those) and broken
hearts, oh yes, the high school broken hearts most everyone has experienced.
Most of all, the pure laughs about who we were and hopefully who we all turned
out to be.
In the end – getting straight A’s and giving zero F’s.
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