REVIEW: Booksmart is Definitely Worth the Hype

High school graduation season is upon us and Seniors are saying goodbye to their high school days and hello to the ir next adventure. This next step will take many graduates away from their comfort zones including their homes and their childhood friends. Making the most of theses final days with their friends is paramount. In Booksmart, Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) are these seniors. The best friends are out to make the most of their last night together before graduation and Amy heads off to Africa for the summer.

Directed by Olivia Wilde, Booksmart follows Amy and Molly, seniors who spent their entire high school careers working hard and studying so they could get into their dream colleges. Molly realizes only focusing on studying and not having any fun was really to their detriment as her fellow classmates had much more fun and got into the same schools. She sets out to make sure she and Amy have the party experience they never had before they graduate.

Kaitlyn and Beanie are fantastic as Amy and Molly, respectively, in this film. Their characters’ stories are enjoyable to watch unfold and the two work so well alongside one another after watching the film you hope they are just as close off screen. Billie Lourd rounds out the cast as, Gigi, easily the funniest character in the film. Her scenes with Kaitlyn’s Amy will leave many wondering how Kaitlyn managed to keep a straight face while filming.

Booksmart is the perfect film for people of all ages. Change is extremely hard and the film does well to show how this big change will impact our leads individually and how it impacts their friendship, as well. The film balances nicely between friendships, relationships and other random teenage problems without feeling like you have seen this film before. Booksmart’s main focus is the friendship between Amy and Molly and how that friendship molded them both.

I would highly recommend seeing this film. Whether you see it in theaters or when its out On Demand or DVD, this is a must see. The story is refreshing and the characters are relatable. For her first film as a director, Olivia Wilde proves she is a force to be reckoned with.

Grade: A