Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Superb, smart teen comedy has drinking, strong sex talk.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
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Booksmart
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 22 parent reviews
Based on 37 kid reviews
Kids say the movie features a mix of humor and sexuality that may not be suitable for younger audiences, with many praising it as a hilarious coming-of-age story that resonates with high school experiences. However, several reviews caution that its frequent strong language, sexual references, and drug use make it more appropriate for older teens, particularly those who can relate to its themes.
- humor and sexuality
- coming-of-age story
- strong language
- appropriate for older teens
- relatable themes
- mixed audience reception
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In BOOKSMART, it's the last day of high school for best friends Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever). They've spent the last four years working hard and preparing themselves for bright futures at the colleges of their choice. Then, shockingly, Molly discovers that many of their classmates -- who've spent their high school years having fun and partying -- have also been accepted into top colleges or have landed first-class jobs. Molly decides that, since she and Amy have missed out, they need to go to the biggest year-end party there is. The downside is that they don't actually know where it is. As they go looking, they wind up at a yacht party, at a drama club party, in a cab with their principal, and having more misadventures. But before the end of the night, they'll find even more than they were looking for.
Is It Any Good?
This wise, funny, compassionate high school comedy succeeds wildly on almost all counts, thanks to its strong, lovable characters and fresh, bracing approach. The feature directing debut by Olivia Wilde, Booksmart recalls nothing less than John Hughes' classic 1980s movies -- especially Sixteen Candles and Ferris Bueller's Day Off -- but without any of their dated, now-cringe-inducing moments. Ironically, though, Booksmart's only flaw is inherited from those movies, in that the adult characters (played by Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, and Jason Sudeikis) are shown as clueless or pathetic, although Jessica Williams rights the balance a bit as a cool teacher.
Booksmart has a modern-day, open-minded take on race and gender identification, and no character is stereotyped. While characters have crushes, the movie's goal isn't romance but rather the complexities of friendship and of life itself (control and chaos). Wilde's achievement could have been mainly character-based and dialogue-heavy, but her work behind the camera is dynamic, exciting, and alive, incorporating musical numbers, singing and dancing, stop-motion animation, and some bravura camera moves and editing. For those currently in high school -- and for anyone who remembers it -- Booksmart has the potential to become a classic of the genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Booksmart depicts teen drinking, smoking, and drug use. Are they glamorized? Do the characters need to do these things to look cool? What are the consequences?
How is sex depicted? Do you think the graphic sex talk is meant to be realistic or shocking? What's the difference? What values are imparted?
The movie seems to be saying that a little fun mixed with responsibility is OK. Do you agree? What are the arguments for or against?
Are Molly and Amy role models? Why or why not?
Are the adults in the movie realistic? Are they silly or ridiculous? How do they relate to teens? Do they listen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 24, 2019
- On DVD or streaming : September 3, 2019
- Cast : Kaitlyn Dever , Beanie Feldstein , Jason Sudeikis
- Director : Olivia Wilde
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : Annapurna Pictures , United Artists
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong sexual content and language throughout, drug use and drinking - all involving teens
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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