'Booksmart': Hype Yourself Up By Watching The First 6 Minutes Of One Of The Best Comedies Of The Year

Comedy, like most film genres, occasionally needs a kick in the pants. Historically, there have been films that have changed the landscape of the genre, hurtling it in new directions. Films like “Animal House,” “Airplane!,” “Caddyshack,” “Old School,” and more recently, “Superbad” have all given the comedy genre a much-needed shot in the arm, twisting the genre in new ways and expanding the scope in the process. While it’s a bit premature to place “Booksmart” among those heavyweights, we sure do hope it reaches those heights.

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And as we prepare for the comedy’s release, Annapurna has gone ahead and released the first six minutes of the upcoming R-rated comedy, directed by Olivia Wilde. Breaking out in a big, big way at this year’s SXSW, critics (including our own) absolutely fell in love with “Booksmart.” The film holds a ridiculously high 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, and while that is hardly a great barometer for quality, the actual reviews paint an even better picture.

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After SXSW, our review couldn’t have been more complimentary, saying, “[‘Booksmart’ is] a terrific mix of poignant emotion and evocative teen vibrancy, perhaps revealing itself to be—as much as raucous teen comedy as it wants to be— a wistful valedictory to the bffs that defined your halcyon days and a winning tribute to the best years of your life.”

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The cast includes Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, and Jason Sudeikis. As mentioned, the film is directed by Wilde, but is written by several ladies, including Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, and Katie Silberman.

Special advance screenings for “Booksmart” are happening tonight, but for those willing to wait, the film opens wide next weekend.

Here’s the synopsis:

Told from a wildly original, fresh and modern perspective, Booksmart is an unfiltered comedy about high school best friends and the bonds we create that last a lifetime. Capturing the spirit of our times, the film is a coming of age story for a new generation.