Booksmart
2019 · Directed by Olivia Wilde
Original language: English
- comedy
The story
Two academic teenage superstars realize, on the eve of their high school graduation, that they should have worked less and played more. Determined to never fall short of their peers, the girls set out on a mission to cram four years of fun into one night.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated daylight and fluorescent school corridors give way to neon-lit party houses, with handheld, restless camera work that stays close to the two leads as they bounce through a single chaotic night in Los Angeles. The palette is candy-bright and hot: pinks, teals, and sunset oranges, with glossy digital sharpness and a soundtrack of loud, bouncy pop and hip-hop that pushes the momentum forward. Pacing is fast and talky, full of overlapping banter, quick cuts, and bursts of slapstick, though it slows for tender, awkward pauses between the two friends. The emotional register is warm, cheeky, and sincere, a bubbly comedy about loyalty and reinvention, with a friendship arc that tests and then rebuilds trust. Intensity is mild: crude jokes, sexual innuendo and some drug and alcohol use, with brief, low-stakes scuffles and no real violence or gore. It suits a weekend night with friends, a fun comfort rewatch, or a lively watch on a laptop with a snack. It is for people who want a funny, big-hearted teen comedy that treats its characters with affection.
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