Booksmart
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Booksmart
Booksmart is a 2019 American coming-of-age comedy film directed by Olivia Wilde. It follows two academically brilliant high school seniors, Molly and Amy, who, on the eve of graduation, realize they've spent their entire high school careers focused solely on academics and missed out on social experiences. Determined to make up for lost time, they embark on a chaotic and wild night to attend the biggest graduation party. The film explores themes of female friendship, self-discovery, and challenging preconceptions about peers. It is intended for mature audiences due to its explicit language, sexual content, and portrayal of substance use.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The movie features a prominent lesbian lead character, Amy Antsler, whose journey of sexual exploration is a central plot point. The film also includes other gay characters and explicit discussions about same-sex relationships, aiming to normalize LGBTQ+ representation.
Amy Antsler (Kaitlyn Dever), one of the two protagonists, is openly lesbian and the film depicts her pursuing a romantic interest in Ryan and later engaging in a sexual encounter with another girl, Hope (Diana Silvers), in a bathroom at a party. Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy engage in explicit discussions about lesbian sex acts, including 'scissoring,' early in the film during a lunch conversation. The character George, a flamboyant theater enthusiast, was originally written as a straight woman but was changed to be a gay male character, further enhancing LGBTQ+ diversity.
Romance and Sexual Content
The film contains extensive and explicit sexual content, including detailed discussions of various sexual acts, strong sexual innuendo, and the depiction of a same-sex sexual encounter. Pornography is also featured.
Profanity
The film contains pervasive strong and crude language throughout, including frequent use of expletives and misuses of religious terms.
Substance Use
The film heavily features underage drinking and drug use, portraying teenagers consuming alcohol to the point of drunkenness and using hallucinogenic drugs and marijuana.
Disrespect & Rebellion
The central premise involves the protagonists rebelling against their past academic focus by engaging in a night of rule-breaking and partying. The film also depicts instances of defiance towards authority figures and questions traditional values.
Anti-Christian Themes
Some Christian reviewers identify 'Booksmart' as having a strong pagan and anti-Christian worldview, promoting politically correct, feminist, and pro-homosexual elements. It portrays Christian parents as fully accepting of their lesbian daughter's choices.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Not recommended for children or younger teens. Due to pervasive strong language, explicit sexual content (including LGBTQ+ themes), extensive substance abuse, and rebellious behavior, this film is best suited for mature young adults (17+) with parental guidance and discretion, aligning with its R-rating.
Good to Know
The movie's R-rating is consistently justified by its strong content across multiple categories. There are no known sequels or adaptations that intensify or shift these concerns; 'Booksmart' is a standalone film. The movie has received critical acclaim for its fresh take on the coming-of-age genre and its representation of diverse characters.
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