movie backdrop

13 days ago

Booksmart

a review by CinemaSerf

"Amy" (Kaitlyn Dever) and best pal "Molly" (Beanie Feldstein) are school swats who, the day before their high school graduation, realise that they're not actually the smartest cookies in the school - but quite possibly the most boring. A few conversations with their fellow students reveal to them that they are every bit as clever, with just as promising prospects, only they have fun - booze, parties, music and even some sex. With twenty four hours to go before leaving, our not so dynamic duo decide to throw themselves wholeheartedly into a night of social whirling. It's clear that the pair already have their entire lives mapped out - only as they let their hair down they discover that their perfectly planned futures are not really what either of them want. Things all come to an head at a party hosted by the popular "Nick" (Mason Gooding) upon whom "Molly" has the slightest of crushes. What happens next? Well that's hardly a six million dollar question as this disappointingly predictable frat-flic takes us on their voyage of discovery. A trip that examines themselves, their attitudes and aspirations in exactly the same way as countless other films that illustrate the process of growing up. The dialogue is actually quite funny at times, but the faux-enthusiasm of the two women going through the increasingly turbulent motions of their relationship started to grate on me quite quickly and it does run quite a bit to stereotype - bits of "Fame" and bits of "Glee" with all boxes ticked. Wasn't for me, sorry.