Will's World of Films: Booksmart (2019)
Olivia Wilde's high-school comedy about a couple of best friends on a quest to have the night of their lives is a bundle of chaos and I am here for every second of it.
2019 has been the best year of my life so far. I had turned 18 and made so many long-lasting memories in the process during both the last few months at college and my first few months at Uni where I started my undergraduate studies in film (a subject I love). Plus, there were so many awesome films that were released during that year too. Avengers: Endgame, 1917, Ad Astra, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood. The list is endless. However, among all those incredible movies that I loved during that year, there was one movie that I loved the most and really stood out to me and that was Booksmart. Admittedly, I actually didn’t see this movie until the end of 2019. It was a time of reflection, looking back at the twelve months that had just passed, and I remember loving the film so much the first time around I ended up watching it again the next day. It was just that good and left that big of an impression on me.
It’s no coincidence that Booksmart - Olivia Wilde’s razor-sharp directorial debut about graduation, taking that next step closer to the future, and saying goodbye to the people you’ve known for years - was my favorite movie of 2019 because, like the characters in the film, I was going through those emotions and experiences myself. The coming-of-age comedy follows Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein), two academic superstars and the best of friends, who realize that they should’ve worked a little less and partied a bit more harder. And so, as a result, they decide to cram a whole year’s worth of partying into one epic night.
When I found out that this was Olivia Wilde’s first stint at directing a studio film, I was amazed in all honesty. This movie felt like it came from a veteran film-maker ten years into their career rather than a first-time director at the beginning of their own film-making journey, there’s just so much confidence that oozes throughout this comedy, and it was just an incredibly impressive and memorable way to start your directing career. Of course, the actress-turned-director was already well-known to the audience having starred in many films before she shifted gears and helmed Booksmart. The Girl Next Door, Tron: Legacy, Cowboys & Aliens, and Rush to name a few. Yet, it’s in this original teen comedy that I think Olivia Wilde will largely be remembered for. Here, with Booksmart, she breathes more life and new perspectives into the high school movie that I find infectious and refreshing.
And look, I understand where people come from when they disregard and dismiss this film as the “female version of Superbad” (both movies are original R-rated raunchy comedies about friends on the cusp of graduation, on a mission to have the night of their lives as they prepare to say goodbye to one another). But, Booksmart is so much more than “Superbad for girls”. It’s sharp, there’s a modern freshness to the themes it deals with and the teen stereotypes it presents, and it carries an air of sweetness throughout too. If anything, it’s a more updated version of that modern high-school comedy classic from 2007.
Like so many all-timer teen flicks and coming-of-age pictures of the past, Booksmart is littered with a killer soundtrack. There’s a nice mixture of modern electro-pop music combined with the gentle yet upbeat musical score (which was composed by Dan the Automator) that accompanies certain scenes. It infuses Booksmart with a danceable vibe, a party atmosphere, and a lively feel to what’s unfolding on-screen.
One song, in particular, that I want to pay special mention to is “oh baby” by LCD Soundsystem; which is played at such a melancholic part of the movie. Molly and Amy have just had a massive fight and they’ve both parted ways, leaving these best friends alone and hurt. In an upbeat comedy, we’re essentially in the reflective stage of the story. Eventually, unable to find a ride home, Molly is given a lift home by “Triple A” (Molly Gordon) - a rebellious student with a wild reputation. That is when “oh baby” plays, and it brings such a light and airy feel to the scene where these characters open up to one another about the labels others have placed on them. They bond, they start to respect each other and realize the error of their ways. It’s a lovely part of the movie, one of my favorite scenes in the film, and is a perfect example of how the soundtrack just gives Booksmart an entirely new level of greatness.
For all the talk of how great the chemistry is between the characters and how hilarious the dialogue is, the aspect that Booksmart doesn’t get enough praise and recognition for is the cinematography. There is so much variety of color throughout which only adds to the vibrant style of the movie, and, generally speaking, this is an aesthetically pleasing and pretty film to look at. Shot by Jason McCormick, who was the cinematographer for 2017’s starry comedy-drama Lemon, there is an ethereal-like quality and beauty to some of the shots within Booksmart. Amy’s dive into the pool which is followed by her swim underwater, the establishing shot of the pair weirdly dancing outside Molly’s home to open up their goofy friendship, and the pure carnage as the seniors celebrate the end of their time at school behind a panicked Molly are all stand-outs in the film.
Yet, despite those wonderful frames, it’s the way the camera is used for Amy and Molly’s argument at the party where I think the film’s cinematography shines the most. Instead of inserting cuts of one angry comment from Amy to another from Molly, McCormick allows the camera to gently pan from Amy to Molly and vice versa all without the need to edit it down. It allows us to be transfixed on their argument, absorbing one insulting blow after another, and gives us a front-row seat to a friendship - that was once full of love, positivity, and complements - now packed with negativity and horrifying truths. Don't worry, they makeup in the end and emotionally say goodbye to one another as Amy boards a long flight to Africa!
I love Amy and Molly’s friendship, the overwhelming positivity they radiate is infectious and only adds fuel to the pure chaotic energy that Booksmart displays throughout. The way they bombard each other with compliments, the support they have for one another by encouraging the other to pursue their love interests/crushes, and the need to be there for each other despite their disagreements further strengthen their friendship. It feels genuine, and it’s all down to Dever and Feldstein who both deliver terrific performances, their chemistry is pitch-perfect too as they play important roles in the movie. They represent strong, independent women building each other up rather than tearing them down and that's what Booksmart is all about: friends who support each other through unconditional love and limitless motivation. It's what I take away from their friendship, anyway.
While Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein deserve all the praise as the film’s two charismatic leads, huge props should also go to Booksmart’s great supporting cast as well. The whole ensemble cast of this movie is just so good in general. But, there were a few people who left their own mark on the film, and (as a result) were just awesome to see whenever they popped up on screen. Mason Gooding is really good as Nick (the popular high school jock who throws an end-of-year rager), he would go on to star in 2022’s Scream and its sequel Scream VI. Skyler Gisondo has some real stand-out moments throughout too as Jared - the highly enthusiastic wealthy student that no one wants to hang out with. The actor, before Booksmart, was most well-known for his comedic role in Vacation back in 2015 and is set to star in James Gunn’s Superman next year as Jimmy Olsen. And as I very briefly mentioned, Molly Gordon is so great as “Triple A”/Annabelle. By the way, if you haven’t seen her work in last year’s Theater Camp yet then I highly recommend you do - she co-directed the film with Nick Lieberman and she co-wrote the screenplay with Noah Galvin (who stars in Booksmart alongside Gordon as well).
“Here comes the 1%” - Amy (Kaitlyn Dever)
I love Gigi (Billie Lourd), she is my favorite character in the movie and she’s up against some pretty stiff competition too. Here, Lourd plays her with so much unpredictability and excitement, and her performance in this reminds me of Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused or Zoey Deutch in Zombieland: Double Tap (which was released in the same year as Booksmart); where a supporting character threatens to steal the show in every scene they’re in. She has so many hilarious lines of dialogue, her comedic delivery is on-point, and she goes to everyone’s parties. To (somewhat) quote Jared: “She may be a little nuts, but she’s the most loyal person” you’ll ever see in a movie for a while.
As a huge Star Wars fan as well, it was also pretty cool to find out afterward that she is the daughter of Princess Leia (played by the late, great Carrie Fisher) and she even appeared in all three films in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. On that note, if (god forbid) Disney/Lucasfilm ever decides to recast any of those “legacy” or legends characters then she will most likely be my pick to play Leia. Anyway, Billie Lourd delivers a fearless performance as Gigi in Booksmart and I will be first in line at the cinema if a sequel that follows her character ever gets made.
“Was that Cardi B?” - Principal Brown (Jason Sudeikis)
The comedy veterans deserve a mention as well here, they may play supporting and even minor roles in the film but they still put a smile on my face and generate plenty of laughs from me whenever they appear on screen. Lisa Kudrow and Will Forte are great as Amy’s quirky parents, Charmaine and Doug, and really make the most of their limited screen time delivering the right level of unorthodox yet lovable energy in their roles (including Forte’s food puns that are so bad they are good). Despite those two established stars, however, I think Jason Sudeikis - who plays Principal Brown - deserves a lot of credit here as well for adding his own comedic presence to the film. He is incredibly funny as Molly and Amy’s high school Principal, producing some hilarious lines of dialogue (“nothing more daunting than the blank page”), and, again much like Lourd with Gigi, delivers his lines effortlessly with an abundance of natural wit. It is such a great performance, and his character never fails to make me laugh.
In a similar way to so many other R-rated comedies of the past, Booksmart is filled with cringe-inducing and awkward moments of its own - usually involving the adults in the movie. While the scene between the two best friends and Amy’s parents is excruciatingly difficult to watch (in a good way), I believe the moment Booksmart reaches its highest level of awkwardness is when Molly and Amy get in the Uber and proceed to watch pornography, all whilst their Principal is driving them to a party. First of all, it’s just such a well-shot scene and I love the use of the lights that cover the interior of the car to give it this pretty and fantasy-like look to it all. But, second of all, the scene is a terrific showcase of how funny all three actors are and the different dynamics they have. In Amy (Dever), you get a lovely relatable performance as she becomes increasingly worried that her Principal will overhear them watching porn. With Molly (Feldstein), you get her devotion and guidance as Amy’s friend coupled with her sharp and quick-fire funny phrases (“hot doc”). And with Principal Brown (Sudeikis), you get this sweet and lovable comedy as he breaks the awkwardness of the moment - whether it is explaining a book he's working on where the main character is a pregnant detective or for thinking the porn Molly and Amy are watching is Cardi B's latest single. It's just such a hilariously awkward scene in the movie, powered by three comedic performances from three talented stars.
“I don’t really know any more than you. All I know is that we all have a lot more to learn. Because this part’s over. And that’s so sad. But it was great, wasn’t it? Things are never gonna be the same, but it was perfect.” - Molly (Beanie Feldstein)
As funny and smart as Booksmart is, it's also steeped in honesty and authenticity. It isn't until here, with Molly's graduation speech, do we come crashing down to reality and fully understand the lessons that this comedy teaches us and the messages we're told in the process as well. The message that perfection isn't everything, the lesson you learn that encourages you to take a chance on other people and to make the effort to connect with everyone else. It's a bittersweet moment and, in those lines above, Molly nicely ties all those teachings together and only just further adds to the endless list of reasons why I love this movie.
And unlike the John Hughes teen flicks of the 1980s, Olivia Wilde’s coming-of-age comedy shows that even the cool and popular kids harvest ambition and a desire to succeed in life - whether it’s getting a top job at a big tech company or getting into one of the most prestigious academic schools in the country. The possibilities are endless, the hope is limitless and the optimism is boundless. It doesn’t matter where you fall in the social pool, you can still party and live life while you get good grades too.
To me, Booksmart serves as a timely reminder into the power original movies hold. They inject fresh ideas onto the screen, they stamp new stories for the audience to latch onto, and they introduce new characters for people to relate to (and even laugh at or with as well). Even though the movie was released in a year when most of the biggest movies were sequels, prequels, and remakes, I believe Olivia Wilde’s high-school comedy about two girls on a quest to have fun should be the perfect case study to encourage future film-makers to tell original stories of their own. It’s like Jared says in the movie: “Audiences want something original” - regardless of the fact that this one didn’t do that well at the box office when it was released in the early summer of 2019.
All in all, however, Booksmart is such a breath of fresh air and an old-school throwback to the original R-rated comedies we used to get back in the 2000s that pretty much changed the formula of teen movies in the process too. It’s an ageless time capsule, where the jokes don’t get old and the characters we meet remain a part of our lives forever. I can’t wait to revisit it again, as I have done a few times already since that memorable first watch all those years ago, and re-live those glory days of what it was like when you had a head full of dreams and the world at your feet.
Booksmart is a trailblazing coming-of-age comedy, it’s one of my favorite films, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. Now, “you wanna get pancakes?”