Beanie Feldstein, Kaitlyn Dever, Billie Lourd, Lisa Kudrow
Actor Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut Booksmart is a barnstorming female-fronted comedy, highly acclaimed by both critics and audiences following its premiere at SXSW, and a key upcoming title for young audiences this summer.
Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein are Amy and Molly, best friends and academic superstars who on the eve of their high school graduation, realise they could have worked less, played more and still achieved academic glory. With nothing to lose and determined not to fall short of their peers, they set out on a mission to cram four years of teenage debauchery into one short night.
While its plot is reminiscent of other rowdy teen coming-of-age comedies like Superbad, Booksmart brings the genre bang up to date with numerous inclusive, progressive touches; not least its refreshing lack of angst about Amy’s burgeoning lesbian sexuality (which is treated with exactly the same ease, simplicity and humour as that of her straight peers).
Generating the laughs of a studio comedy while retaining an indie sensibility in visuals and tone, evincing a lucid understanding of the contemporary moment, Booksmart is a terrifically promising debut from Wilde, a joyous celebration of female friendship, and looks set to generate further critical praise on its May release.
