Read Mixed User Reviews for Booksmart

4

dchipps1945May 26, 2019

I knew this film was a comedy, and it's got a few hilarious bits. Still, as a coming-of-age study of friendship, I thought it would be more serious and thoughtful. Instead it's a mixture of Clueless, Animal House, and American Graffiti, onlyI knew this film was a comedy, and it's got a few hilarious bits. Still, as a coming-of-age study of friendship, I thought it would be more serious and thoughtful. Instead it's a mixture of Clueless, Animal House, and American Graffiti, only on speed and set to the beat of a jackhammer. That is, until the third act, when we learn everybody's really a nice person. Oh, and it ends at an airport, which I've never seen a movie do before. To call the story formulaic would be understating the case. Not a bad film, but nothing special at all, in my opinion.… Expand

11 of 19 users found this helpful118

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5

GazMoviesSep 13, 2020

On the eve of their school graduation, two academic superstars and best friends realise 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. HadOn the eve of their school graduation, two academic superstars and best friends realise 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. Had some funny moments, but I'm probably not the target market for this I think.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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6

LifeisbellablogApr 19, 2020

I definitely think this is a unique story. It goes in a lot of different directions, that it kind of ends up all over the place. It's definitely very extra and over the top. There weren't too many laughs, and I didn't particularly feelI definitely think this is a unique story. It goes in a lot of different directions, that it kind of ends up all over the place. It's definitely very extra and over the top. There weren't too many laughs, and I didn't particularly feel emotionally connected to the characters or their story but I did enjoy following their friendship. Overall I did enjoy it, just not as much as I thought I would based on all the positive buzz around the movie. I feel like I will forget I even saw this movie in a year or two.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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6

bataguilaSep 18, 2019

Si entretiene, pero es para viejas, las historias son bobas pero funcionan, y es una apologia a las lesbianas y gays

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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5

LajaleaaAug 24, 2019

"Here comes the 1%."
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( 57/100 ) . La juventud que la actriz y directora Olivia Wilde presenta en "Booksmart" está llena de privilegios ignorantes y celebra los valores más incorrectos que justo la juventud necesita vencer y cambiar. La"Here comes the 1%."
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( 57/100 )
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La juventud que la actriz y directora Olivia Wilde presenta en "Booksmart" está llena de privilegios ignorantes y celebra los valores más incorrectos que justo la juventud necesita vencer y cambiar.
La cultura Pop ha producido films sobre la rebeldía, energía y desenfreno juvenil que, junto a films como "Superbad" (2007) y "Project X" (2012), solo fortalecen el estereotipo que la juventud americana se ha ganado: una sociedad de derroche y consumismo irresponsable e innutil.
Amy y Molly (Kaitlyn Dever y Beanie Feldstein), están a un día de graduarse de la preparatoria cuando se dan cuanta de lo tontas que fueron al estudiar y no salir de fiesta al mismo tiempo, por lo tanto deciden hacer de su última noche la más loca y aventurada de su preparatoria.
No es difícil identificarse con esa juventud, todos lo hemos sido y, al menos un poco, hemos sentido los privilegios de pertenecer y los miedos de ser minoría. El problema es que el guión asume que "pertenecer" es diversión, alegría y festejo, y lanza a sus actrices a una aventura que, en vez de disfrutar, las convierte en patéticos intentos de retroceder a una actitud primitiva. Asimismo promueve la actitud del exceso, el ceder a los impulsos sexuales y mentales, la desconfianza social y "soluciona" la idea de "comprar amigos" con romance. Aunque hay una secuencia de animación (que se puede quitar sin daño alguno), la escena que le da valor a la película (e, irónicamente, se enmudece) es un conflicto verbal que muestra el talento actoral de las protagonistas.
A pesar de que el film tiene la oportunidad de exponer un drama socio-cultural, prefiere optar por el camino cómico e inconsciente de su misma cultura. "Booksmart" es peligrosa y me causa pavor imaginar cuantos jóvenes pueden verla y querer crecer igualmente solo porque es "cool". No lo es, hay diferentes tipos de diversión, y entregarse a los impulsos es la forma más irresponsable de vivir.
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The youth that the actress and director Olivia Wilde shows in "Booksmart" is full of ignorant privileges and celebrates the most incorrect values that the youth needs to overcome and change. The Pop culture has produced films about young rebellion, energy, and wildness that, along with films like "Superbad" (2007) and "Project X" (2012), just reinforces the american stereotype that youthhood has won: a society of waste and useless, irresponsible consumerism. Amy and Molly (Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein), are about to graduate from high school when they realize how foolish they were by studying and not going out to parties at the same time, therefore they decide to make their last night of high school, the most adventurous and crazy. It is not that hard to identify yourself with this youth, we all have been young and, at least a little, have felt the privileges of belonging and the fears of being an outcast. The problem is that the script assumes that "belonging" is fun, joy, and celebration, and throws their cast to an adventure that, instead of enjoying, it makes of them pathetic attempts of behaving in a primitive way. Likewise, it promotes excess behavior, giving in to the sexual and mental impulses, the social distrust and "resolves" the idea of "buying friends" with romance. Even though there’s an animation sequence (that can be taken out with no harm), the scene that gives some value to the movie (and, ironically, is muted) is a verbal conflict that shows the acting talent of the main cast. Despite the film has the opportunity of exposing a social-cultural drama, it prefers to take the comical and unconscious path of the same culture. "Booksmart" is dangerous and it makes me dread to imagine how many young people can see this and would want to grow up just like that because it's "cool". It's not, there are different types of fun and giving in to the impulses is the most irresponsible way of living.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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5

KeithDowJul 13, 2019

The producers of 'Booksmart' eagerly tried to associate it with 'Superbad' in what is now in retrospect a naked attempt at "punching up."

And before you say it, yes, we do know Beanie Feldstein is Jonah Hill's sister. The bottom line isThe producers of 'Booksmart' eagerly tried to associate it with 'Superbad' in what is now in retrospect a naked attempt at "punching up."

And before you say it, yes, we do know Beanie Feldstein is Jonah Hill's sister.

The bottom line is that far too many developments in the story are illogical and far too many of the jokes land with a thud for it to be enjoyable.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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6

DrBlahBlahJul 12, 2019

The film tries soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hard to be the Female Superbad.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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5

ahmedaiman1999Jul 9, 2019

It has some very sporadic chuckles in its first half, flashes of wit, and striking performances especially from the two leads. But other than that, It's neither funny nor original. I have seen quite few films with this theme, or that areIt has some very sporadic chuckles in its first half, flashes of wit, and striking performances especially from the two leads. But other than that, It's neither funny nor original. I have seen quite few films with this theme, or that are classified under this sub-genre (I haven't even seen Superbad), but I already found everything here quite familiar. The plot itself is clichéd, insipid, formulaic, and oversimplified. And you can clearly notice that at every single turning point in the story. And there are a lot in the second half, for it's very overstuffed, messy, and muddled. And that, of course, caused a lot of tonal imbalances.

I'm really frustrated because I thought I would see something like Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig's fantastic and highly auspicious directorial debut. But Booksmart seems to think it is much smarter then it actually is. I have to give Olivia Wilde points for making such an energetic and colorful film, though. Also, these flashes of wit I've mentioned above are all due to Wilde's direction. I do think she has a quite promising directorial career.

(5.5/10)… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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4

JoeCoolJun 17, 2019

Must see movie? OMG! Critic credibility totally down the drain. As a comedy this movie just fails completely. I didn't laugh a single time, nor did I even come close to a smile. It was just not funny, it really wasn't. As a coming of ageMust see movie? OMG! Critic credibility totally down the drain. As a comedy this movie just fails completely. I didn't laugh a single time, nor did I even come close to a smile. It was just not funny, it really wasn't. As a coming of age story it fares considerably better. Not great by a long shot, but at least not a total failure.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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6

leburn98Jun 1, 2019

Booksmart tries it's best to be this generation's Fast Times and Ridgemont High or Super Bad, but ultimately fails in it's execution.

9 of 14 users found this helpful95

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6

AcaciaJun 2, 2019

I really looked forward to seeing this movie and really wanted to love it. Unfortunately, I did not love it. Can’t say exactly why. But, it just felt so over the top at times and unrealistic. I loved the relationship between the twoI really looked forward to seeing this movie and really wanted to love it. Unfortunately, I did not love it. Can’t say exactly why. But, it just felt so over the top at times and unrealistic. I loved the relationship between the two girls. Loved their chemistry, but felt a lot of the movie didn’t ring true for me. It was very raunchy in parts and the kids behavior was so stereotypical in places, it was painful to watch. Just didn’t ring true with me.… Expand

8 of 13 users found this helpful85

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6

moviemitch96May 31, 2019

It's the rave reviews that drew me into this one, and I just didn't think it looked all that fresh or funny to begin with. It really is just a female 'Superbad', (add to the fact that Jonah Hill's younger sister Beanie Feldstein starred inIt's the rave reviews that drew me into this one, and I just didn't think it looked all that fresh or funny to begin with. It really is just a female 'Superbad', (add to the fact that Jonah Hill's younger sister Beanie Feldstein starred in this makes it feel even more like that), with most of the jokes falling flat for me. There were a handful of mildly amusing moments for me, and Feldstein is mostly charming throughout (the same can't be said for Kaitlyn Dever however, who've I've always found to be really annoying in most films.) Overall, only a handful of decent moments and Feldstein's performance didn't really make this one too worth it for me. I really think Olivia Wilde should just stick to acting.… Expand

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

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4

FilmopinionatorMay 30, 2019

This movie is a political correctness piece of trash. To have it compared to superbad is a disgrace. It's sad how the world has become so soft and oblivious to this trendy nonsense

20 of 32 users found this helpful2012

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6

cylackMay 26, 2019

Don't understand the hype. Mildly funny, maybe 1 or 2 lough out loud moments. Took bits and pieces from every teen comedy done in the past, sprinkled in a heavy dose of modern PC. Should have expanded on the theme it touched on briefly of theDon't understand the hype. Mildly funny, maybe 1 or 2 lough out loud moments. Took bits and pieces from every teen comedy done in the past, sprinkled in a heavy dose of modern PC. Should have expanded on the theme it touched on briefly of the obsessiveness to get into elite colleges and whether success or happiness is really guaranteed.… Expand

13 of 19 users found this helpful136

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4

JLuis_001May 26, 2019

As it happened at the time with Get Out, then with Crazy Rich Asians and now with this film, it's quite clear to me that American critics are desperate to be inclusive.

I comment this because after finishing this film I found myself quiteAs it happened at the time with Get Out, then with Crazy Rich Asians and now with this film, it's quite clear to me that American critics are desperate to be inclusive.

I comment this because after finishing this film I found myself quite confused because many of the opinions that I was reading and that I was finding about the story of this film made me ask again and again what those people saw that I didn't.

Olivia Wilde basically made Superbad female version and that's not her fault. Well in a way it is because she chose that script to debut as a director but the rest is the fault of the writers because they were the ones who implemented this story but analyzing it, you will realize that you're practically watching the same film. The only difference is that the main characters in this case are women and they don't have a third character to finish the jokes like Fogell.

Although what interested the guys in Superbad was to get laid, the only difference with these girls is that they try to have fun considering that they apparently think they wasted their time in high school studying to the fullest trying to enter a good college.
Because apparently studying hard and not living at parties with drugs and alcohol is only a crime of the nerds. What a cliche isn't?

But it doesn't stop there. Once the story makes clear where is going, the path that follows is saturated with clichés until the ending.
I don't understand in what way anyone would tell me this is a fresh film, that it reinvents the genre, that it brings something new to the table because I didn't see it anywhere.

Does that mean it's a bad film? Actually bad wouldn't be the word I would chose but irrelevant.
I cannot deny in any way that more stories are needed with female characters, which obviously need more films directed by women.
That the voices of these women should be delivering strong stories and in general terms Booksmart has some of those things I mention.
The director is a woman, the main characters and screenwriters too and I applauded they have that opportunity and that they have the forum for people to see and hear their work but don't disguise the importance of that proposal with the results delivered because I personally think that Booksmart has nothing original or new and that isn't necessarily a bad thing because how many film exists that repeat thematics? However, most of the time that is stressed and criticized and I don't see why in this case it was different and it became acclamation.… Expand

12 of 21 users found this helpful129

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6

amheretojudgeMay 24, 2019

Yes, it is a typical coming of age film, but the kids aren't just told to have fun, the supervisor is a smart cookie.

Booksmart Wilde has got it. I think so. I mean, there have been plenty debut directors hitting home runs in couple ofYes, it is a typical coming of age film, but the kids aren't just told to have fun, the supervisor is a smart cookie.

Booksmart

Wilde has got it. I think so. I mean, there have been plenty debut directors hitting home runs in couple of years. And even though, the director, Olivia Wilde, isn't changing the game or flipping the table, but her rhythm is adaptable to those ever-changing background score that often transcends into a catchy song. Watch her craft a sensible theme that leans towards drama or comedy, within a snap. This risky element in the script does hover around the dangerous territory and when it has to get its hands dirty, it whimpers. The drama is a bit transparent and emotions overridden. The equation between the lead characters, despite of being shallow and backstage when taken lightly, is more absorbent than when it finally reveals its true self.

And no matter how smartly Wilde choreograph these fights with using productive angles and expressive background score, the cheesy liners that initiates the conversations cannot be pulled off with all the distractions possible; no matter how elegant. Beanie Feldstein is the winner. Clearly. Mostly, because she has got a leader-alike role. She is up for anything, overpowering everyone, her personality is, in fairness, crowd pleasing. Her know-it-all attitude draws you in and her.. well, friendship tames you into adoring her.

Kaitlyn Dever, on the other hand, is the underrated star whose zest to keep things vanilla helps survive their friendship. But, surprisingly, as a character, Feldstein can't even stand alone, and Dever is strong when alone, this is where things get juicy and also come to an end; a bit early I'd assume. At the end of the day, this will always be the beckoning of Wilde's talent, that were maybe hidden maybe not, but what's sure is that she is here to stay, in her comic arena, not experimenting but confident in her punch lines.… Expand

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

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