Shannon Purser Shines In Netflix's 'Sierra Burgess Is A Loser' [Review]

The summer of coming-of-age love is wrapping up at Netflix, whose growing original content has been pulling at heartstrings the past few months, with spirited films like “Set it Up” and the recent “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.” Despite the streaming giant’s flaws and overwhelming catalog, its originals will remain long after the rights windows on studio released movies close. Luckily, this means that audiences can see Shannon Purser shine in a leading role with “Sierra Burgess Is A Loser” any time they want. And they should. Beyond its aspects of romantic comedy, “Sierra Burgess Is A Loser” offers an authentic examination of identity in the confines of high school stereotypes, making the film a well-rounded, boast-worthy story for Netflix.

To the audience, Sierra Burgess is anything but a loser. She starts off the film looking at herself in the mirror, reciting the daily affirmation, “You are a magnificent beast.” At school, however, Sierra fades into the background. While smart, funny, and confident, she is the bane of existence to popular cheerleader Veronica (Kristine Forseth). After putting up an advertisement on the bulletin board to tutor her peers, Sierra’s contact information is ripped from the flyer by Veronica. The cheerleader gives out Sierra’s phone number to Jamey (Noah Centineo, a rising star, as seen in Netflix’s other recent teen romance ‘To All the Boys’), the quarterback of the rival high school’s football team who Veronica also deems a loser. Over a few nights, Sierra and Jamey text and (gasp!) talk on the phone for hours on end, while Jamey is still under the impression he is talking to Veronica. As Sierra struggles to find a way to keep up the act, hiding who she really is to Jamey, Veronica’s love life takes a spin when her boyfriend mocks her for not being smart enough. Here is where the tables turn. The young women, once annoyed by the other’s existence forge a pact — Sierra tutors Veronica to appeal to her older beau, while Veronica makes appearances to Jamey on behalf of Sierra. What ensues is a well-intentioned ruse conspired between Sierra and Veronica to get the boy.

Don’t be fooled by the film’s outward appearance as a romantic comedy. Produced by Black Label Media, the best parts of “Sierra Burgess Is A Loser” don’t come from the entangled romance but what comes because of the situation. Hiding under the guise of a high school set romantic comedy, the film offers another important theme and the core of what makes the film so relatable — defining who you are. All the while Sierra is pretending to be Veronica, and Veronica, in turn, takes on qualities of Sierra, the best relationship to watch unfold isn’t the sneaky and playful one between Jamey and Sierra/Veronica, but between the two young women.

Decidedly navigating the hallways of a high school, it would have been a safe choice for director Ian Samuels and writer Lindsey Beer to embrace tired stereotypes: the popular girl, the jock, the nerd, etc. However, with these high school-aged characters, there is vulnerability and insecurity on full display, quite literally the main ingredients in making a high school student. The authenticity not only adds depth to the narrative but also generates empathy for the main characters; there’s not one who isn’t fully realized. Beer’s writing respects the audience by giving just enough information, allowing viewers to make their own assessment of a character and their actions.

Although there is much to admire about the film (performances, writing, and general pace), “Sierra Burgess Is A Loser” narrowly misses losing itself with overplayed, insulting jokes on Sierra’s appearance and a problematic incident in the final act. When Sierra feels betrayed, she sets out on a path of revenge — high school style. It’s melodramatic and feels out of touch with the young woman we’ve followed up to this point. Her actions go beyond mean, they’re cold, calculated, and embarrassing. Luckily, the film calls her to the mat immediately. Sierra’s best friend, played by scene-stealing RJ Cyler (“Me And Earl And The Dying Girl”), rebukes Sierra’s behavior. “I don’t even know who you are anymore,” he says. Regaining itself and slowly leading to a satisfying end that ties up any loose threads with a sequence akin to a “where are they now” montage, Samuels’ feature-length directorial debut doesn’t take many risks but shifts the focus for a more fulfilling experience than a straightforward, formulaic romantic comedy.

Through the whole film, the star is unquestionably Shannon Purser. The young actress, who came to fame as Barb on the popular Netflix series “Stranger Things,” provides complication, comedic timing, and a realism to the title role that, in the hands of another, may have felt insincere. Purser has completely left Barb in the Upside Down and “Sierra Burgess Is A Loser” is the perfect vehicle for her first leading performance. What makes the film work is its subversion of the classic high school romantic comedy. While Noah Centineo is endearing and unquestionably sweet as Sierra’s love interest, it’s the love story between Veronica and Sierra that is at the heart of the film. As cliché as it sounds, despite its few missteps, “Sierra Burgess Is A Loser” is a winner for Purser, Beer, and Samuels and by extension, Netflix. [B+]