Since its debut at SXSW, “Booksmart” has been gaining lots of hype. As of this writing, it holds a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 100% positive reviews and has been compared to comedic successes like “Superbad.” Based around two nerdy, straight-A students who decide to use their last night in high school to make up for all the antics that they missed out on while they were busy studying, this film takes the “one wild night out” cliché and reinvents it for the modern audience.
While the premise of “Booksmart” carries the potential for comedic gold, it is the chemistry between Beanie Feldstein (“Lady Bird”) and Kaitlyn Denver (“Justified”), as well as the confident directing of Olivia Wilde, that will really sell this film. As Wilde’s directorial debut, this could establish her with a solid reputation as a filmmaker in a genre that has typically been male-dominated.
This gender dynamic is one way that “Booksmart” is clearly a modern film. By placing two females (one of which is gay) at the heart of a coming-of-age comedy, it flips the script on the cliché of the awkward teenage boy looking for love and self-discovery. Considering that the script for “Booksmart” has been floating around Hollywood since 2009, it is a testament to the writers and director that it still looks to deliver an extremely fresh and modern take on a comedy classic.
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Another way that “Booksmart” feels fresh is how it combines the two biggest stresses for current high school students: navigating social pressures and peer relationships in an increasingly competitive and achievement-oriented atmosphere. While the film isn’t making any big societal statements (though its sex-positive and female-oriented perspective will certainly speak volumes), it feels very rooted in our current culture as a “truly 2019” comedy.
And of course, you can’t go wrong with a soundtrack featuring Run the Jewels. “Booksmart” will be released in theatres on May 24.