Booksmart (2019), directed by Olivia Wilde

Amy and Molly have been good girls all through school, putting the work in to get the results. And it has paid off; they will soon be off to study at Yale and Harvard. On the last day of school they realise that many of the hard-partying students they look down on have also gained entry to good colleges and they set out to make up for what they have missed out. As a tribute to female friendship Booksmart works well. As a teen comedy it is less successful, falling flat in a few places that are meant to be funny - such as the inversion of the creepy teacher trope. It’s as though the film tries too hard to be the next Bridesmaids, upping the profanity and gross-out factor to no real purpose. Kaitlyn Dever is very good as Amy. Beanie Feldstein is a little OTT in the less sympathetic role of Molly. Much has been made of this film as an undiscovered gem. Meh.