In the years since John Hughes arguably carved out the high school movie as its own unique genre, many have risen to the challenge of creating iconic movies to define specific eras. Superbad very much did that when it hit theaters back in 2007, and it did so by taking DNA from films like Dazed and Confused and melding it with a Judd Apatow-style comedy focusing on friendship.
Now, Olivia Wilde is doing the same with her directorial debut, Booksmart. In fact, as producer David Distenfeld explained to CinemaBlend and other outlets during a visit to the films set earlier this year, the comparisons to Superbad make a lot of sense because the movie focuses on a friendship set against the backdrop of a crazy evening. The producer said:
In terms of the Superbad comparison, it's that friendship. Yes, there was all that craziness going around Michael [Cera] and Jonah [Hill], but friendship is what the movie is about. As much as they go through that crazy night, the friendship of these two girls is really what sort of grounds it.
So, it sounds like we can generally expect Booksmart to go to some pretty wild places when it finally premieres. The movie is aiming to heighten reality in a very similar way that Superbad did, but its also going to do so while anchoring the narrative in the friendship of two lovable characters.
Viewing a project like Booksmart through that lens, producer David Distenfeld seems to think the comparison to Superbad is actually fairly apt.
Of course, Superbad is not the only film that features this type of structure or narrative style in the creation of a high school movie. Despite the similarities between Superbad and Booksmart, its also worth noting that films like American Graffiti and Dazed and Confused have similarly employed the one-wild-night structure in the creation of legendary high school movies.
Superbad just happens to feel like one of the most apt comparisons because it specifically focuses on a pair of awkward teens making their way through a raunchy, hard-R night.
Booksmart centers on two young, intelligent girls on their last day of high school. Upon coming to the realization that they have squandered their four years focusing on academics and not paying attention to the social scene, they set out to have one wild night before graduation.
CinemaBlend will bring you more information related to Booksmart as new details about the film are made available to us. Keep it here for more updates related to Olivia Wildes directorial debut, and head on over to our movie premiere guide to read up on all of the films that will hit the big screen before the end of the year.
Why Booksmart Feels So Similar To Superbad By Conner Schwerdtfeger cinemablend.com — In the years since John Hughes arguably carved out the high school movie as its own unique genre, many have risen to the challenge of creating iconic movies to define specific eras.
Booksmart - CINEMABLEND
But why are we so quick to compare Booksmart to the box of penis jokes Judd Apatow created in 2007 with Superbad?The fact that the stars of each respective film are siblings (Booksmart's
Booksmart Isn't the "Female Superbad" — It's Better | InStyle.com
But why are we so quick to compare Booksmart to the box of penis jokes Judd Apatow created in 2007 with Superbad?The fact that the stars of each respective film are siblings (Booksmart's
Booksmart isn't a "woke Superbad" - it's way better than that
Superbad hasn't necessarily aged well in comparison, with its cheap and dated jokes. What also makes Booksmart so important is its focus on the female version of a "bromance," which is a rare find in cinema, yet it is becoming more and more recognized with the likes of Bridesmaids, LadyBird, and Broad City.
Conner Schwerdtfeger | Business Insider, Screen Rant
Why Booksmart Feels So Similar To Superbad
For starters, Booksmart arrived in theaters more than a decade after Superbad, and as such its teen landscape has a very different feel to it. Whereas Superbad is a classic teen slacker comedy, Booksmart is an anti-slacker movie, whose protagonists are high achievers who already have a ten-year plan for their careers (or at least Molly does).
Why 'Booksmart' Is More Than Just The Female 'Superbad'
Booksmart isn't a "woke Superbad" - it's way better than that So yes, in every way and with every moment, it well and truly earns its "woke" badge. not once does it feel like the badge
Booksmart: 6 Things It Does Better Than Superbad (& 4 Things
It's like Superbad, but with girls, and better. Booksmart is like Superbad, but with girls and better so as not to make anyone feel left out or demoralized, which is why it takes until
Why Booksmart's Ending is Better Than Superbad's | ScreenRant
Superbad very much did that when it hit theaters back in 2007, and it did so by taking DNA from films like Dazed and Confused and melding it with a Judd Apatow-style comedy focusing on friendship.
Booksmart is like Superbad, but with girls and better - vox.com
Why Booksmart Feels So Similar To Superbad Booksmart's Female-Driven Story Isn't Just For Women, According To Director Olivia Wilde High school movies come in all shapes and sizes.
"Superbad" is a classic in its own right, and I believe most of the comparisons being made between the films are done out of nostalgia. That being said, I feel as though it's unfair to write something off as the "female" version of anything.
Booksmart Isn't the "Female Superbad - yahoo.com
