Booksmart a smart renter

Booksmart (2019)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: R for strong sexual content and language throughout, drug use and drinking – all involving teens
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: September 3, 2019

Synopsis: On the eve of their high school graduation, two academic superstars and best friends realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night.

Review: No synopsis can really do this teen party flick justice due to the depth of layers and the slick writing. BOOKSMART has a lot of heart and more than its fair share of life lessons for those of any age. It is funny, relatable, and at times outrageous. For some of us – myself included – high school seems like yesterday. For some it is the best of times and for others the worst. But we remember it vividly regardless.

Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) are best friends and tighter than sisters. They have spent their 4-years of High School focusing on studying and avoiding anything that would hinder the education process. On the last day of their senior year – the night before graduation – they realize that they may have made a bad choice. Not in their studying but lack of social engagement. So they spend the 90-plus minutes of the film trying to attend the most epic party of the year. Along the way they learn a lot about themselves and those they sort of misjudged.

Amy and Molly are very likable and enjoyable to watch.They could have been plucked from any high school in the nation and come across as organic. That is important to make the film work. If you don’t engage with them you miss out on the heartbeat of the story. There are also some strong moments in the movie as Amy and Molly take the time to talk to their peers in social settings. In these moments they learn that you can’t judge a book by its cover; smart or otherwise.

Though about teens it is an adult film due to the content. So I would be careful watching it with your kids as it may create some very awkward moments.