Booksmart – Review

Best friends and academic enthusiasts Amy (Dever) and Molly (Feldstein) are navigating the waning days of their high school careers, looking forward of the blessings of their non-stop studying and party-avoidance paying off over the rest of their lives. They picture instant and sustained successes all the way to their respective tops.

They are finally there: graduation and the summer before college. They have put in the work. They have forgone the “cool” social status, and are unseasoned with drugs, alcohol, or love. BUT their studious and focused edge has given them a leg-up on everyone else… right?

Well, maybe not. The pair of girls discover that somehow, someway, all the “cool” kids, the athletes, the stoners, the party monsters, the girls with “differing” morals, well, they are all headed to similar ivy league schools, and/or promising six-figure tech programming careers.

As the girls internally go “Sheeeeeeiiiiiitt,” they race to have at least one blowout night and experience “real” high school. As they head to crash the popular kid party and prove themselves as more than geeks, the night brings obstacles and hijinks.

This movie is ridiculous fun, from its hypnotic dialogue between its main cohorts, or the energy that zips through each scene. The young high school kid cast is all fantastic, and most all actors give their characters layers, despite some with short screen-time. The few adults are all seasoned comedy vets, bringing their talents to the mix. First time feature director and seasoned actress Olivia Wilde wraps up the smart script and fun cast into one nice and pretty package, managing all aspects well.