Director
Olivia Wilde

Starring
Beanie Feldstein, Kaitlyn Dever, Billie Lourd and Jason Sudeikis

To anyone who still subscribes to the Jerry Lewis school of thought that women aren’t funny; please sit down, your time is over. Booksmart is the hilarious new comedy written by women, directed by a woman (Olivia Wilde in her directorial debut) and starring two brilliant up and comers in Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever. But what makes this an outstanding comedy is that it’s not a ‘women’s’ film. It’s a classic end of high-school romp with two teenagers looking to blow off some steam before college. It sounds clichéd, but there is a freshness here that will keep you entertained for the entire 102 minutes.

Dever and Feldstein play best friends who have dedicated their entire high school experience to earning the highest grades and gaining entry into the best Ivy League schools in the country. When they come to discover that even the popular party makers have also found their way onto the esteemed admissions lists, the two make a last-ditch attempt to have the party experience so they can feel as if they didn’t waste their teenage years. The hi-jinks that ensue over the next hour and a half is enough to fill your funny quota for the month.

The film is stylistic and well fleshed out and the majority of the characters aren’t the regular stereotypes. Whilst the story does go through a lot of familiar motions, the execution is bold and new enough to make the idea seem unique. The extended cast all add value with the added interest for a case of famous families; from Beanie Feldstein herself (the sister of Jonah Hill…which is something you can’t un-see once you know), to Mason Gooding (Cuba’s son) and of course Billie Lourd, the daughter and granddaughter to the late greats, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.

There’s no doubt that there will be some manbabies out there who will still want to tear this film down because there isn’t enough ‘bro’ influence, as unfortunately there are still a few too many ‘Jerry Lewis fans’ out there. But for anyone who likes their comedy fresh and appreciates all the funny women out there, get behind Booksmart, you won’t be disappointed.

4 stars

Trailer
BOOKSMART

Moviedoc thanks Universal Pictures for the invite to the screening of this film.

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