Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut Booksmart is a comedy set in high school, and one that focuses on two A students who spent so much time working hard that they forgot to party. Now that it’s the last night before graduation, they set about making up for precious lost time.

Starring Kaitlyn Devers, Beanie Feldstein, Jason Sudeikis and Noah Galvin, I think everyone generally performed well, and Booksmart is a movie with some parts I really enjoyed. To my surprise, though, more so than the comedy-focused scenes between Feldstein and Dever, the moments that really commanded my attention were actually the more emotional/dramatic scenes. Scenes like the argument towards the end and the very last scene in the movie.

The funny moments that stood out most include all the ones that featured Sudeikis – even though he’s hardly in it. I especially appreciated the moment the Cardi B. reference happened. There’s also Galvin’s generally great comic timing, delivery and his potentially nightmare-inducing rendition of Alanis Morrisette’s classic ‘You Oughtta Know.’

The music, cool shooting and editing style, particularly, the way the high school experience is captured, is certainly memorable.

As for what I loved less about Booksmart, that would be the unfortunate slight cringe factor that stemmed from some scenes between Feldstein and Dever, because they went on for too long. Also, some scenes came across as ‘too high-energy’ and overdone. 

I say see it for yourself if you’re curious. It’s certainly highly hyped but there is some cleverness within.

Happy Film Loving,

G