Anybody who thinks that this is just a female <i>Superbad</i> would be wrong, because it's so much more than that. This is a film about friendship, and in some respects it feels more of the same compared to other coming-of-age films, but it delivers past that expectation with the help of Olivia Wilde's excellent direction and the strength of Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein. This is a film about friendship, but it's also about a celebration of youth and empowerment of one’s own life. Dever and Feldstein are perfection but Billie Lourd is hilarious as well! But seriously, it’s also the hardest i’ve laughed in a long time and it'll sadly probably get snubbed come awards season but this deserves Best Picture and i will love and cherish this movie until I die.

‘Booksmart’ is a fun, hilarious, and instantly and infinitely quotable film, making it a must-see for all ages and sexes. But most importantly, it’s exciting. Olivia Wilde has here proven herself to be a fantastic new voice in filmmaking, and she’s brought along screenwriters Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins and Katie Silberman for the ride. One can only imagine the excellence they’ll produce in the future and if they keep discovering new onscreen talent as well, there’s no stopping them. Girl power! - Jess Fenton Read Jess' full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-booksmart-say-hello-to-the-next-great-voice-in-female-filmmaking Head to https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/sff for more Sydney Film Festival reviews.

I like the leads but I **love** the supporting cast. _Booksmart_ had me dubious. In the past couple of years beforehand, I'd heard great (and virtually identical) things about three female-led coming of age films: _Edge of Seventeen, Lady Bird,_ and _Eighth Grade_. In my opinion, one of these movies is great, one of these movies is good, and one of these movies is... not. So when I started hearing the exact same chatter around _Booksmart_, I was not certain what I should expect. Now, having seen it, it might actually be the best of the bunch. Certainly the funniest. Might well end up being my only non-Action movie of the year I go in for a rewatch on. _Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time._

I found this movie to be enjoyable and engaging in most ways. The script is intelligent except for one flaw, the young leads do a great job, and there is a sort of group chemistry amongst the student body. And it is witty and fun. Now, as someone who is over 60, I was a little saddened to find that the writers had killed off the world’s older generation and populated the movie with only the young. And I was disappointed that hardly anyone in the movie could make it through a sentence without dropping an f-bomb. Of course I am inured to the use of this catch-all word in film and cable tv, but when everyone, even two intelligent women who gave up fun while they studied their way through high school, can only manage using the f-word as adjectives, adverbs, verbs, etc., it makes you shudder for all the elite universities about to receive this influx of new talent.

_Booksmart_ is a hilarious coming of age story that has a surprising amount of heart. I loved everything about this film, from the raunchy jokes to the real existential fears of moving on to college. The cast is amazing, both Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever do an excellent job and the supporting cast is top notch. The comedy in this movie is done so right, the lines are delivered in realistic ways and the jokes hit quite often, my fiancé and I were completely cracking up at certain sections. All in all, I had a incredible time with this film! **Score:** _88%_ **Verdict:** _Excellent_

<em>'Booksmart'</em> is a good watch! The plot does end up being something I feel like I've seen before and does get a bit too over-sentimental, though for much of the run time it is entertaining. Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein are a top duo, I totally believed their friendship - noteworthy (palpable, you could say...) chemistry in that sense. Skyler Gisondo also adds an amusing performance. Recommended.

"Amy" (Kaitlyn Dever) and best pal "Molly" (Beanie Feldstein) are school swats who, the day before their high school graduation, realise that they're not actually the smartest cookies in the school - but quite possibly the most boring. A few conversations with their fellow students reveal to them that they are every bit as clever, with just as promising prospects, only they have fun - booze, parties, music and even some sex. With twenty four hours to go before leaving, our not so dynamic duo decide to throw themselves wholeheartedly into a night of social whirling. It's clear that the pair already have their entire lives mapped out - only as they let their hair down they discover that their perfectly planned futures are not really what either of them want. Things all come to an head at a party hosted by the popular "Nick" (Mason Gooding) upon whom "Molly" has the slightest of crushes. What happens next? Well that's hardly a six million dollar question as this disappointingly predictable frat-flic takes us on their voyage of discovery. A trip that examines themselves, their attitudes and aspirations in exactly the same way as countless other films that illustrate the process of growing up. The dialogue is actually quite funny at times, but the faux-enthusiasm of the two women going through the increasingly turbulent motions of their relationship started to grate on me quite quickly and it does run quite a bit to stereotype - bits of "Fame" and bits of "Glee" with all boxes ticked. Wasn't for me, sorry.